Confusion reigned in Kenya Friday ahead of Saturday's World Cup/African Cup of Nations' qualifier against Tunisia as rival Kenya Football Federation (KFF) factions battled for supremacy.

The group allied to chairman Alfred Sambu, which enjoys world's soccer governing body FIFA's backing, and the group led by former acting Secretary General Titus Kasuve, wrangled over the control of the match to be played in an empty stadium here on FIFA's orders.

The groups on Friday held separate security meetings aimed at putting in place the requisite security machinery ahead of the tie.

FIFA ordered that the Group Five 2006 World Cup/African Cup of Nations return match be played behind closed orders, following crowd trouble that left one soccer fan dead.

Schoolboy, Collins Miyawa, was trampled to death at the Nyayo National Stadium in June during a World Cup qualifier between Kenya and Morocco.

Blaming KFF for the security lapse and poor organization which saw impatient ticket holders storm their way into the stadium, the world soccer governing body banned fans from the Kenya/Tunisia match.

Initially FIFA restricted the number of those to be allowed into the stadium to 120, including press, security agents, team officials, players and first aiders, but increased the number to 450 upon Kenya's request.

And to ensure the order is enforced, FIFA has dispatched CAF security official Adnan El Guindy of Egypt to Nairobi co-ordinate the security operation.

And Friday, the rival KFF factions, split by the recent appointment of Moni Wekesa as the new secretary, held separate security committee meetings here.

Both factions claim that they are the bona fide organizers of the match and reminded the press and other officials that they the ones to accredit those watching or covering the tie on Saturday.

"I wish to remind journalists, the press and other people attending the match that they will only be allowed into the stadium if they bear accreditation cards duly signed by CAF security official Adnan El Guindy", Prof Wekesa warned.

Though the FIFA crowd ban was precipitated by crowd trouble, the bad blood in KFF has split the national federation into two, the FIFA-backed camp headed by chairman Alfred Sambu, and the Kasuve-led wing which enjoys the support of sports minister Ochilo Ayacko.

FIFA had warned that decisions taken at the meeting would not be binding.

Source: Xinhua