Chinese Super League side Beijing Renhe winger Ayub Timbe Masika is one of the two players recalled by the Kenyan football head coach Sebastien Migne in his squad for their 2019 CAF Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Sierra Leone.

Timbe was handed a three-match ban and fined 10,000 U.S. dollars by the continental governing body CAF in May following an incident that occurred during the opening round of the qualifiers last year where Kenya lost 1-2.

In his absence, Kenya stunned Group F side Ghana 1-0 before drawing 0-0 and then beating Ethiopia 3-0 to take control of the pool with seven points, three above the latter.

However, the return tie against Sierra Leone in Nairobi scheduled for Nov. 18 hangs in the balance following the suspension of Sierra Leone by FIFA on May 5 over government interference.

The CAF subsequently cancelled their double header against Ghana earlier this month, but with no official word yet on their fate, Football Kenya Federation (FKF) said they were not taking chances, giving Migne the green light to name his squad.

“We are operating as if Sierra Leone will come. It is stated nowhere that they have been withdrawn from the competition. Until now, no one says they are out,” FKF president Nick Mwendwa said in Nairobi on Tuesday.

“We know the ban is still in place but what would happen if Sierra Leone shows up on Nov.14? Kenya is ready for the AFCON, if they come, we (will) beat them, if they don’t, we will take the points and move on,” he added.

Mwendwa further confirmed Kenya was lining up a friendly in the next FIFA international window that will run from Nov. 12 to 20 against a yet to be announced country.

Besides Timbe, Frenchman Migne also recalled striker Masoud Juma who recently joined Dibba Al Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates following the inglorious end of his stint at South African Premier Soccer League side, Cape Town City FC.

England based duo, Henry Ochieng and Jonah Ayunga earned their maiden call-ups in a largely unchanged squad.

Since his appointment in May, Migne has led Kenya to the brink of AFCON qualification, winning two and drawing the other qualifier where he was in charge.

His charges only have to finish second in Group F to make the expanded finals that will feature a 24-team tournament for the first time in Cameroon.