Nairobi — Kenya play Cape Verde Islands today in Mindelo in an African Nations Cup qualifier match, the first time ever that the two countries are meeting in an international football fixture.

The excitement this match has generated in the country is to some degree muted. Few Kenyans know the state of football in Cape Verde. Many may struggle to point out where the islands are on the world map. Actually, Cape Verde is situated on the Atlantic Ocean, some 1,200km of the coast of Mauritania/Senegal

On paper, Kenya start as favourites having qualified for the final four times compared to Cape Verde's none. But that is the only obvious statistic that favours Kenya

Cape Verde hold an unbeaten home record in competitive matches that stretches back to when they last lost on June 28 1992 to Guinea-Bissau 0-1 in an African Nations Cup qualifier. Their limited international outings, though may have contributed to this.

Kenya, meanwhile, are yet to win away in their African Nations Cup campaign in recent years, their only victory a 3-0 wiping of minnows Djibouti on July 31, 1998. In fact, before that, Kenya's last win away was in Kinshasa in July 11, 1993 when they shocked DRC (then Zaire) 1-0.

Significantly, though, Kenya started their road to Tunisia 2004 in emphatic fashion with a 3-0 drubbing of group favourites Togo. The question now is whether Harambee Stars' roller-coaster start can continue.

Snugly perched on top of Group Five, coach Jacob "Ghost" Mulee knows that a win in Cape Verde will surely give Harambee Stars a foot-hold to the final.

Harambee Stars have left nothing to chance, re-grouping after the Togo game in September for a two-week training tour of Britain.

"We will send Harambee Stars to Tunisia no matter what it takes," Kenya Football Federation secretary Hussein Swaleh said just before the team left for Britain.

There, Kenya lost 0-1 to Northern Ireland Premier League champions Linfield but salvaged their goal scoring touch to beat the Bolton Wanderers reserve team 4-3 with Godfrey Osama, John Barasa, Walter Barasa and Dennis Oliech netting a goal each.

Mulee was on record last month as saying that he lacked quality strikers against Togo. The coach lamented the absence of Mike Okoth. The Belgium-based striker is again not available for the Cape Verde game.

But blasting three goals past Togo must indicate a functioning strike force. Defender Musa Otieno may have got one goal but front runners Baraza and Oliech each slotted home a goal.

Both strikers are available to Mulee and have looked good in England. Maurice Sunguti's replacement, Paul Oyuga of Swedish club Orebro adds another hit-man for Mulee to pick.

The midfield stays unchanged. Ghent's John "Mo" Muiruri remains the creative spark and is expected to run the show with support from Osama and Nicholas Muyoti. Muyoti has continued to improve with every game and may be a key player.

Midfielder Robert Mambo should be employed from deep while Mathare United's Titus Mulama may yet get his chance as an attacking midfielder playing from the left side.

The defence line also shows no change safe for the return of Tusker's Japheth Waweru. Musa Otieno retains his captaincy and will be partnered at central defence by either Waweru or Robert Oguda. A more defensive formation my see Mulee playing all three with Musa acting as the sweeper.

Other players at the back include Issa Kassim, Adan Shabaan and Philip Opiyo with Francis Onyiso the last line of defence.

Little is known of Cape Verde. The island nation recently changed their policy of just relying on home and Portugal based players, looking further in Europe and got instant results beating Mauritania, admittedly a small football nation, 2-0 on the road.

Star midfielder George Santos formerly of Premiership side Sheffield United but now at Grimsby Town played in the Mauritania game. The 32-year-old has opted to miss the Kenya tie so as to concentrate on his club career.

The inclusion of four players from Portuguese clubs, two from France and one from Norway, makes Cape Verde dangerous opponents.

Kenya showed during the Togo game that they are a hard working, skilful side always eager to go forward. They also displayed periods of carelessness, enunciated when they, on several occasions, gave away the ball cheaply.

If Harambee Stars maintain their concentration against an anticipated partisan crowd, they will already have done half the job.

A win for either country will put them in a commanding position in the group. A win for Kenya may just get the country dreaming of glory in Tunisia.

The Kenya team: Francis Onyiso, Victor Onyango, Adan Shaban, Issa Kassim, Philip Opiyo, Japheth Waweru, Rebert Oguda, Musa Otieno (captain), Nicholas Muyoti, Walter Odede, Robert Mambo, John Muiruri, Edward Karanja, Titus Mulama, Godfrey Osama, Paul Oyuga, John Baraza, Dennis Oliech, Jacon Mulee (coach), Micky Weche (assistant coach), David Ochieng (team manager/goalkeeper trainer).