Brian Wanyama
- Kenya will not participate in the AFCON 2025 competitions
- Harambee Stars needed a win before their next game against Namibia and had to hope that Zimbabwe would lose to Cameroon in their final match, but their hopes were dashed by the South Africans.
After failing to earn maximum points against a determined Zimbabwe in a pivotal qualification match played at the exciting Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, South Africa, Kenya’s men’s national football team, the Harambee Stars, will not be participating in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
Under pressure from the fans, Engin Firat’s team managed to pull off an extremely entertaining 1-1 draw despite needing to win six points from their final two Group J games.
Before Jonah Ayunga scored his first goal with an equalizer at the beginning of the second session, Tawanda Maswanhise gave the ‘hosts the lead in the first half.
With a game against Namibia remaining, Kenya will once again fall flat on their faces, but the Warriors will advance to the biannual continental event thanks to a point that was hailed by a raucous Zimbabwean crowd.
Captain Michael Olunga took advantage of Teenage Hadebe’s teen-ish error, goalie Marley Tavaziva smothered it away, posing an early threat for the visitors in enemy territory.
Zimbabwe began slowly but always had the chance up front, as if to test the traveling support’s anxieties.
Zimbabwe took the lead in the 32nd minute with their first shot on target when Tawanda Maswanhise fired a thunderous shot past Bandari FC shot stopper Byrne Omondi to make it 1-0.
The Engin Firat coached side had a clear chance to find an equalizer in the 37th minute but Rooney Onyango blasted his shot wide with Eric Otieno unable to connect on the right wing as the Zimbabwean defenders were caught out of position.
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That proved to be the final bit of goal-mouth action in the half as the Warriors went into the locker room with a one-goal lead.
With Zimbabwe doing most of the attacking after the restart, Kenya looked dangerous on the counter-attack.
Coach Engin Firat decided to refresh his attack and defence pulling out Aboud Omar and Joseph Okumu and introducing Duke Abuya and Charles Momanyi.
After the Zimbabwean goalie mishandled the ball, Jonah Ayunga took advantage of a defensive blunder to jump on the rebound before a Warriors defender could clear it off the line, giving Harambee Stars the equalizer in the 52nd minute.
Godknows Murilwa, who should have given his team the lead three minutes later after latching onto a cross from the left but hurried his shot and skewed the ball wide of the target, was substituted for Takwara as Zimbabwe decided to switch defenses at the hour mark.
As Zimbabwe attempted to pose a danger on the counterattack, Michael Olunga also lost a wonderful opportunity as the Harambee Stars fought to get back into the game.
