Kenya's national soccer team, Harambee Stars are through to the final phase of Africa's 2010 World Cup qualifiers despite a 3-2 lose to Guinea in Conakry on Sunday night.
French-based prolific striker Denis Oliech scored a brace in the last minutes but it was not enough to cancel out goals from Hull City's Kamil Zayatte, Mamadou Bah and Dynamo Kiev's Ismael Bangoura.
The result ensured the Syli Stars of Guinea finished top of the Group Two standings, edging Kenya's Harambee Stars by a single point. Kenya also progressed to the last group phase as one of the eight best group runners-up.
The win enabled Guinea top Group Two with 11 points and Kenya, who were on top going into the match, finished second but well within the points bracket to seal passage to the next round as one of the best second-placed eight teams.
The match which was televised live from Conakrysaw Harambee Stars look vulnerable from set pieces and attacks from the flanks as Bangoura powered in the opener on 32 minutes after the Kenyans failed to clear their lines.
Bah stretched the West Africans' lead on 61 minutes profiting from slack defending from a corner to find the back of the net before Zayatte headed home another free header.
Oliech, returning after suspension, put a good performance on the score line despite the Kenyans playing second fiddle to the Guineans when he scored at the near post.
Oliech, who is mulling over a move back to Qatar, then hit the second on the stroke of full time, finding the top left corner of goalkeeper Naby Yattara.
The final phase of African qualifiers starts next year. The draw for the five groups of four teams will be held in Zurich on Oct. 22.
Source: Xinhua
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