Harambee Stars captain Michael Olunga acknowledged that it has been challenging to see other national teams compete in tournaments to qualify for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations while they are absent due to exclusion.

PHOTO | COURTESY Michael Olunga trains ahead of a friendly match against Iran

Stars and Zimbabwe were eliminated from the qualifiers before they began because the two nations' governments had interfered with the international governing body FIFA.

"Of course, playing in these prestigious competitions is every player's goal. Watching other teams compete in the qualifiers is difficult. Although we would have liked to participate, we did not influence this. We should take advantage of these small opportunities and prepare for the following assignments since at least now we are starting someplace, " Olunga added.

On Match Day four of the qualifications, Stars were scheduled to play Burundi but will now take on Iran in an international exhibition game in Tehran on Tuesday instead.

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Seventeen months have passed since the previous international encounter, a 2022 World Cup qualifier against Rwanda in Nairobi in November 2021. The captain thinks it is a relief for the team to be back together.

PHOTO | COURTESY Harambee Stars trains ahead of a friendly against Iran on Thursday

"It's wonderful to be back. Everyone involved has not had an easy time, but now is the time to put everything behind us and resume our previous positions", according to the Al Duhail forward.

Olunga believes that playing a strong Iran team with equally talented players, who participated in the most recent World Cup in Qatar, will be a fantastic opportunity for the players to gauge their level.

"Every team that has competed in the World Cup is a good team, and everyone knows Iran is a fantastic side. They are a strong team both technically and tactically, and their most recent performance against Russia ended in a draw", according to Olunga.

He continued, "As players, we want to participate in these kind of games, so gaining friendly competition of this caliber is a good move. You must play with teams who have already attained the top if you want to compete with the best. The boys will do well in the test".