NAIROBI, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's national soccer team, Harambee Stars, plays the Chipolopolo of Zambia in the opening match of the 33rd Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup in Nairobi on Saturday.

    Kenya coach Twahir Muhidin named his final 20 players late Friday ahead of the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup.

    Those dropped include Gor Mahia midfielder Ibrahim Kitawi, Hillary Echesa, who turns out for Tanzanian Simba, IFK Mariehamn's Amos Chona, Ulinzi Stars forward Evans Amuoka and Tuskers captain Jerry Santos.

    Muhiddin retained last year's Kenya Premier League top scorer, Francis Ouma, who joined the team on Thursday morning from his Portuguese base.

    "Zambia are a top class team and we will approach them cautiously. But we want to give a good account of ourselves. The players are up to the task and have promised not to let the fans down," Muhiddin said.

    "Considering the standards we showed against Nigeria, one of the top sides in Africa, I think we stand a big chance of winning the tournament. We have the big guns to finish the job," Muhiddin said.

    His Zambian counterpart Herve Bernard said on arrival he expected tough opposition in Nairobi but will want to make a strong statement on Zambia's football. This will be the first time Kenya are hosting the tournament since 1994.

    The coach has though maintained the bulk of the team that competed in the 2010 World Cup qualifiers.

    In goal, Finland-based Willis Ochieng, who has proved himself dependable, is expected to start.

    The Kenyan side will also have an experienced attack consisting of Allan Wanga, out of contract with Angola club Petro Atletico and Patrick Oboya (Siad Most FK).

    Composed midfielder, Peter Opiyo, who came out strongly in the latter stages of the qualifiers against Nigeria, is back from trials in German and will be directing traffic in midfield.

    Zambia are using the tournament as build up for next year's African Cup of Nations and have included seven players from the squad that played in the qualifiers.

    They include China based forward James Chamange who recently scored a hat trick to help Zambia to a 4-1 demolition of World Cup-bound North Korea and defenders Dennis Banda and Emmanuel Mbala.

    Harambee Stars skipper, Julius Owino, is optimistic that the team will clinch the CEFAFA Challenge that kicks off on Saturday.

    "We have all intentions to wrest the CECAFA crown considering the event will be played here on home soil," said Owino.

    "Going by the team we have and the preparations we have put in place I see Kenya being favorites to win this one," Owino said.

    "We will do our part on the field but I call on Kenyan fans to come and cheer the team in huge numbers as we need that support todo well," he added.

    The tournament organizers said the invitation extended to Zambia and Zimbabwe is geared towards fostering good working relations between Cecafa and its southern African counterpart- Council of Southern African Football Associations (Cosafa) - of which Zambia and Zimbabwe are members.

    The CHAN tournament is a relatively new tournament introduced by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and restricted to home-based players.

    It's aimed at giving home-based players, most of the time overshadowed by foreign-based professionals, the chance to showcase their skills.

    Uganda, Kenya's western neighbor, arrive by road on Friday and head straight to Mumias. Kenya will face Zambia in the opening match in Nairobi on Saturday.