World Cup Q: Kenya will not sit back against Ivory Coast – Manousakis

Kenya national team assistant coach Vasili Manousakis has revealed the team’s desire to attack Ivory Coast when the two sides face off in their final Group F qualifier at Alassane Ouattara Ebimpé Olympic Stadium on Tuesday.

While the African champions still stand a chance to qualify, Harambee Stars will be playing for pride, and seeking a third straight victory in the qualifiers. After losing to Gambia 3-1, Kenya have gone ahead two win two consecutive matches.

First, they mauled Seychelles 5-0, and travelled to Burundi where they secured a 1-0 win. The first round between Kenya and Ivory Coast ended in a 0-0 draw.

Kenya target is to win and finish third

“Any time the national team takes the pitch the intention is to win,” Manousakis said as quoted by Mozzart Sports. “We have to go out, we have to create that winning culture – it is now two wins, one on the road and two clean sheets – so the mindset and the mentality is definitely to do our best and try and win.”

He added: “Of course we know the quality in their squad, they have not lost a game in the group, and the task is tough. But we believe in ourselves, nobody really gave us a chance away to Burundi, and even when we showed we needed to dig deep, we managed to get the three points and that was important.”

Manousakis, who addressed the media on behalf of head coach Benni McCarthy concluded: “The mindset and the mentality is to play off the front-foot and try to go for the win.

“I think any team knows that if you try to sit back and defend 97-98 minutes against Ivory Coast it is going to be a very difficult task, and a very long match. We do not intend to do that.

“We will take the game to them, we cannot worry about what their objectives are and what they have to do. We want to win the match and finish third in the group, which I think would be respectable, considering the group that we are in.”

A win for Kenya will ensure they finish third while Ivory Coast, who have 23 points, will reach 26 and cement their top spot. Ivory Coast is yet to lose a match this campaign.