Kenya excluded from four-nation tourney as FIFA launches probe

Kenya will not take part in the four-nation tournament, slated for later this month in Egypt, due to wrangles that have hit the team selection.

Hussein Swaleh, who is the local LG coordinator, said on Monday the organizers have drafted Angola to replace Kenya in next week's tournament.

"Kenyan politics is too dirty and the organizers have decided to replace Kenya with Angola," he said.

Angola will join hosts Egypt, Senegal and Ecuador in the multi-million shillings tournament.

Rival KFF factions had been fighting over the running of the soccer affairs in the country.

Earlier, FIFA-recognised KFF chairman Alfred Sambu said that the recalled Jacob Mulee will not handle the national team.

Mulee, a former coach of the Harambee stars, was due to lead the team during the four-nation tournament from December 27 in Egypt.

Sambu also said Kenya's participation in the tournament is subject to the world football governing body's permission, adding that Kenya will not travel to Egypt if FIFA does not sanction the event.

Sambu said that if Kenya participates in the four-nation tournament, the current coach Mohammed Kheri will be in charge.

"It will be very unfair for us to drop Kheri and his team when Kheri has persevered a lot so far while going without his salary," he said.

"We still owe him and his assistants their outstanding salaries," said Sambu who is slowly recovering after being involved in a road accident this August in Nairobi.

Meanwhile, world soccer governing body, FIFA, has reportedly ordered investigations over the LG Cup tournament.

FIFA's special advisor to president Jerome Champagne is reportedly concerned that the Egyptian FA had not sought its permission to host the tournament.

He said FIFA also want to find out why the Egyptian FA did not bother to inform Alfred Sambu about the tournament and instead dealt with Hussein Swaleh who does not hold any position in KFF.

Last week, KFF secretary general Moni Wekesa said he is waiting for an invitation letter from the Egypt FA before beginning preparations for the event.

Wekesa said he is aware of the FIFA investigations and hoped that the Egyptian federation would seek FIFA's permission before the tournament kicks off.

Soccer pundits said the new controversy could force the organizers of the tournament to exclude Kenya from the rich tournament.

The tournament which kicks off on December 27 to 29 will has prize money of 50,000 US dollars for the winning side. The runners-up will receive 30,000 dollars and third-placed team 20,000 dollars.

Besides the lucrative prize money the players will be paid an allowance of 50 dollars each per day with officials earning double.

Organizers are paying for everything from air-tickets to accommodation for participating teams.

KFF said Kenya would use the tournament as a build-up to the qualifications for the 2008 Cup of Nations finals.

Angola would now play Egypt on December 27 with Ecuador taking on Senegal the same day.

The winners play each other two days later with the losers taking on one other in the play-offs.

Source: Xinhua