NAIROBI, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Kenya national football team coach Sebastian Migne says his side must prove their mettle and stake a claim to win the Africa Cup of Nations, which will be held in Egypt from June 21 to July 19.
Migne was among 19 national team coaches who attended a Confederation of African Football (CAF) workshop in Cairo, and said Kenya's long absence from the tournament will not hinder their progress.
Kenya is returning to the AFCON after 15 years of absence. "We want to prove that we deserve to be there," said Migne.
19 of the 24 teams who have qualified for the AFCON final were represented at the workshop by their coaches, who have all travelled to Cairo ahead of Friday's AFCON draw.
Migne said he hopes Kenya will not be pooled in the fourth jar, which is meant for the lowest-ranked sides.
"I have no idea if we will be in the fourth jar or if we will be placed in the third. I want us to avoid meeting Uganda, because we have plans to play a friendly against them," he said.
CAF will validate the composition of the hats for this draw during its executive committee meeting.
Meanwhile, Kenya will look elsewhere for their training camp after their first choice of France was taken by other AFCON qualifiers.
After Friday's draw, Migne says he will start the search for a new camp, with the original plan falling through over funding issues.
"It is too late to camp in France. We will change because we were late to book the camp," said Migne on Thursday.
This follows a delay by the Kenyan government in releasing the 244 million shillings (2.4 million U.S. dollars) in funds required by Migne in order to arrange the trip.
"It was difficult to have funds from the government available, and I am a little afraid because I booked the camp but didn't pay for it," added Migne.
During their last appearance at the AFCON in 2004 in Tunisia, Kenya camped in England and Scotland.
The team was scheduled to travel to France on May 23 for a three-week training camp, before heading to Egypt on June 15 for a one-week acclimatization camp ahead of the final tournament.
