Kenya’s hopes for qualifying for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) took a hit after a narrow 1-0 loss to Cameroon on Monday, October 14, at Uganda’s Mandela Stadium, Namboole. Despite a resilient performance from the Harambee Stars, an exquisite free kick by Boris Enow secured all three points for Cameroon.
Key Highlights:
- Kenya suffers a 1-0 defeat to Cameroon, making AFCON qualification more difficult.
- Cameroon secures victory with a stunning free kick by Boris Enow.
- Sports CS Kipchumba Murkomen remains optimistic, urging the team to focus on upcoming fixtures.
- Kenya sits third in Group J with four points after four games, while Cameroon leads with 10 points.
Murkomen’s Message to the Team
Before the match, Sports Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen expressed optimism, encouraging the national team to avenge their earlier 4-1 defeat to Cameroon. In his message, Murkomen urged the Harambee Stars to push for a victory that would have kept Kenya’s qualification hopes firmly in their control.
Despite the narrow loss, Murkomen took to social media to support the team, saying, “We may have fallen 1-0 to Cameroon today, but our AFCON journey is far from over.”
He added, “There are many positives we can take from this match for our next game. With 1 win, 1 draw, and 2 losses, there’s still much to fight for. On to the next tie in November, unbowed. Great effort here.”
What’s Next for Harambee Stars?
After four matches, Kenya has accumulated four points from a win, a draw, and two defeats, placing them third in Group J. Cameroon leads the group with 10 points, while Zimbabwe, with a game in hand, sits second with five points.
The Harambee Stars’ remaining qualifiers will take place in November, where they will face Zimbabwe and Namibia. Kenya’s chances of qualifying for AFCON now depend not only on winning both games but also on favourable results in other group matches.
AFCON 2025 Qualification Hopes
If Kenya manages to beat both Namibia and Zimbabwe in their final fixtures, they would finish with 10 points, potentially securing a spot at the 2025 AFCON in Morocco. However, other results within the group must also align to keep their hopes alive.
Background Information:
The last time Harambee Stars participated in AFCON was in 2019 in Egypt, where they failed to advance past the group stage. Since then, Kenyan football has faced challenges, including multiple bans by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Kenya was recently barred from hosting international matches due to substandard facilities at Kasarani and Nyayo stadiums.
Kenya’s football governance is also undergoing change, with the Football Kenya Federation set to elect a new president on December 7, 2024. This could mark a fresh chapter in Kenya’s footballing ambitions, potentially influencing the national team’s future performance.
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