Harambee Stars midfield dilemma ahead of Senegal clash

The selection question

If the squad announcement raised eyebrows, the midfield selection for the Senegal match is the choice that will define the coach's tenure in this qualifying cycle.

The blend of a ball-winning anchor, a deep-lying playmaker and an attacking runner worked in patches against lesser opposition, but Senegal's press will punish hesitation. The question is whether to match them physically or trust the technical players to keep the ball.

History favours caution. Teams that have tried to trade blows with Senegal have been picked apart; the more disciplined approach has produced better results, even in defeat.

• Three candidates for two starting berths
• The captain is fully fit after a month out
• Tactical shape is expected to be a compact 4-4-2

We will pick the team that gives us the best chance of getting a result, not the team with the biggest names.