**Kenya takes commanding lead in World Cup qualifiers after strong away win**
Kenya’s Harambee Stars have positioned themselves well for progression to the second round of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers after a convincing victory in the first leg of their opening-round tie on Wednesday.
Playing away at the Anjalay Bellevue Stadium, the Kenyan side dominated proceedings, securing a comfortable win that boosts their hopes of advancing in the competition.
The breakthrough came in the 18th minute when Johana Omolo opened the scoring for Kenya. Omolo’s impact was further underscored as he sealed a brace late in the match, netting his second goal in the 82nd minute.
In addition to Omolo’s goals, striker Michel Olunga and defender Mike Evans Shakava also found the back of the net, while Ajub Masika contributed with another crucial strike, helping the Harambee Stars build a significant advantage ahead of the return leg.
Despite the solid Kenyan performance, the Mauritian side fought back to score twice. Andy Sophie converted a penalty, and Jonathan Bru added a second goal to keep their hopes alive ahead of the second leg.
The return fixture is scheduled to take place in Nairobi in three days’ time, where Kenya will look to consolidate their advantage and secure their place in the next phase of the qualifiers.
Kenya’s head coach, Bobby Williamson, expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance but warned against complacency ahead of the home leg. “We have a good lead, but the job is not finished,” Williamson said. “We need to stay focused and give our fans another reason to celebrate.”
The Harambee Stars have shown promise in recent years and are aiming to build on their continental reputation by reaching the World Cup for the first time in their history.
Mauritius, despite the defeat, will be hoping to capitalize on their home advantage in the return match to overturn the deficit and advance further.
The outcome of this fixture will shape the hopes of both nations as they chase World Cup dreams in the highly competitive CAF qualification rounds.
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