Kenyans on Twitter (KOT) took it a notch higher on Friday, staging an unlikely showdown with their Tanzanian counterparts over Genk striker Mbwana Samatta whose move to England’s Aston Villa is eminent.
The Kenyan online brigade with is well known to pick up fights with anyone and on anything sensationally claimed that the Taifa Stars captain was a Kenyan with his residence in Nairobi’s Umoja estate, something that rubbed Tanzanians the wrong way, who hit back by claiming ownership of Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Victor Wanyama who is the Harambee Stars captain.
Aston Villa are hoping to complete a January deal for the 27-year old Tanzanian as manager Dean Smith moves to bolster his firepower after losing Brazilian forward Wesley for the rest of the season to a knee injury.
Samatta is said to be on a £10m as the two clubs work on the fine details of the transfer that are yet to be agreed on.
Samatta, who scored against Liverpool in this season’s Champions League group stage, requires a work permit so he will not be available in time for Villa’s visit to Brighton on Saturday.
Aston Villa are 18th in the Premier League after 22 matches, and are also eying Algeria’s with 31-year-old Leicester City striker Islam Slimani.
The Tanzanian skipper scored against Kenya in their 2019 AFCON match which Kenya won 3-2 thanks to a Michale Olunga brace at the continental showpiece.
The war of words and banters between KOT and TOT seems far from over.