Harambee Stars will return to action tonight after 16 months in the cold when they take on the Iran National team at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran.Stars’ last assignment was a World Cup qualification match against Rwanda at the Nyayo National Stadium in November 2021. This came days after the disbandment of the federation and instalment of a Caretaker Committee. The ban was lifted a year later when the federation was restored.Stars left for Tehran on Saturday and have been training in the Asian nation in readiness for the match that was hurriedly planned after the initial plan to play Burundi hit a wall.##NAJAVA_MECA_7137195##The two teams met in 2009 at the same venue in a friendly match that was settled by a Hamid Kazemi goal from the spot. Victor Wanyama is the only remaining active player from the group that played Iran but he has since retired from international football.Iran played another friendly match against Russia at the Azadi Stadium five days ago, the match ended in a one-all draw with the hosts coming from a goal down to claim a share of the spoils.Captain Michael Olunga is happy to be facing a side that he describes as good. He says he was impressed by Iran’s performance at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.”First, I want to thank the Football Kenya Federation for lining up such a fixture and against a very good opponent. These are the kinda games we need as a team so that we can size up against the best nations and pick up lessons from them”.“I watched a couple of their games during the World Cup and they are a really good attacking side with good strikers. They played Russia a few days ago and drew 1-1. That just shows you how improved they are. These are the games we want to play.”Squad in Iran GoalkeepersPatrick Matasi, Ian Otieno, Bryne OdhiamboDefendersDaniel Sakari, Eric Ouma, Johnstone Omurwa, David Ochieng, Brian Mandela, Joseph Okumu, Daniel Anyembe, Abud OmarMidfieldersAmos Nondi, Wilkims Ochieng, Richard Odada, Alpha Onyango, Duke Abuya, Teddy Akumu, Kenneth Muguna, Victor Omune, Abdallah HassanForwardsElvis Rupia, Alfred Scriven, Michael Olunga, Masud JumaAFC Leopards off FIFA’s bad books
