Kenya plans to send 10,000 fans to AFCON finals in Egypt

Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-08 22:36:38|Editor: yan
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NAIROBI, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Kenya football officials say over 10,000 of the country's fans will travel to Egypt to cheer on the national team as they return to the continental showpiece, which starts on June 21.

Nick Mwendwa, from Football Kenya Federation (FKF), said the Harambee Stars will pitch a three-week training camp in France from May 27 to June 16, and have lined up a number of friendly matches dependent on the outcome of the AFCON draw, which will take place in Cairo on Friday.

Mwendwa said the FKF have launched a promotion that will help increase the number of fans attending the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals.

"The promotion will run from April 8 to June 10, and will see the winner walk away with one million shillings (10,000 U.S. dollars), and a free trip with five other winners to Cairo, Egypt. We are targeting about 10,000 fans to cheer on the Harambee Stars in Egypt," said Mwendwa on Monday in Nairobi.

French head coach Sebastian Migne was signed last year with the mandate to take Kenya to the AFCON after a 15-year absence, and also help it qualify for its first ever FIFA World Cup.

Kenya's qualifying campaign for the 2022 World Cup will officially start in November.

For the first time, the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations will take place in the summer rather than winter months, and feature 24 teams instead of 16.

Egypt were chosen to host the tournament, replacing Cameroon who were stripped of the hosting rights owing to inadequate preparations and security concerns.

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