Although Kenya are without men's trials winner Geoffrey Kamworor - the 2015 and 2017 world cross country champion will instead seek a third consecutive International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Half Marathon title in Valencia on March 24 - they are confident of maintaining their domination against nations who are also lacking some of their top performers, particularly in the men's race.

Uganda will be missing 21-year-old world 10,000 metres silver medallist Joshua Cheptegei and 17-year-old world junior cross country champion Jacob Kiplimo.

Ethiopia's team, meanwhile, will be headed by relatively unknown trials winner Enyu Mekonnen.

Barkach emerged to prominence as he showcased his talent by finishing behind Kamworor at last month's National Championships in Nairobi.

Other members of the Kenya squad for the Confederation of African Athletics event, that will take place in the north of Algeria, 200 kilometres west of the capital Algiers, are Macharia Ndirangu, Emmanue Bor, John Chepkwony Josephat Bett and Julius Kogo.

The Uganda men's team will be headed by 26-year-old trials winner Thomas Ayeko, the London 2012 10,000m finalist, and Phillip Kipyego, who took second place in the trials on a photo-finish.

The Uganda women's team will look to 20-year old trials winner Mercyline Chelangat, who competed over 10,000m at last year's IAAF World Championships in London, and second-placed Stella Chesang.

"We named a full team for the seniors and juniors and hope to compete seriously with the likes of Kenya and Ethiopia," said Dominic Otuchet, President of the Ugandan Athletics Federation.

"The national trials helped us pick the best."

Enatnesh Almirew will carry Ethiopian hopes in the women's senior race as trials winner.