AFCON 2025: Harambee Stars seek redemption as Cameroon come calling again

Harambee Stars players during a training session. [Harambee Stars,X]

After a heavy 4-1 defeat to Cameroon last Friday, Kenya’s Harambee Stars are under pressure as they prepare for a crucial return leg in their Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers.

The Group J clash at Mandela National Stadium in Uganda on Monday evening from 4pm Kenyan time is a must-win for the Kenyan side, as they currently sit third in the standings with four points.

Cameroon, meanwhile, lead the group with seven points, followed by Zimbabwe on five, while Namibia lags behind without a point.

The top two teams from each group will book their ticket to the 2025 Afcon finals, set to take place in Morocco, and Kenya’s chances now hinge on avoiding defeat today.

Harambee Stars coach Engin Firat admitted the performance against Cameroon on Friday left much to be desired and stressed the need for immediate improvement if his team is to stay in contention.

Reflecting on the 4-1 loss to the Indomitable Lions, Firat did not mince words. “It was one of the worst first-half performances since I took over the mantle at Harambee Stars,” he said.

“We were outplayed in every aspect. Cameroon’s intensity, physicality, and tactical awareness were superior, and we need to do better. Whether we’re attacking or defending, we have to play with a system.”

The match saw Cameroon’s star-studded lineup take control from the get-go, with Vincent Aboubakar, Martin Hongla, Bryan Mbeumo, and Christian Bassogog all getting on the scoresheet.

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Michael Olunga’s lone strike provided little solace for Kenya, who struggled to cope with the tempo of the game.

“We had too many mistakes,” Firat said.

“Cameroon were a better side, led by the likes of Bassogog and Mbeumo, who were constantly pressing us. But we can’t dwell on that now. We need to fight in the second leg and pick ourselves up.”

Kenya’s defence was particularly porous in the first leg, allowing Cameroon too much space to exploit on the flanks and failing to cope with their forwards’ aerial dominance. Firat acknowledged that fixing these issues will be critical if they hope to contain a powerful Cameroonian side in the return fixture.

“The second leg is going to be tough, no doubt about it,” he said. “But the key is to correct our mistakes. We can’t give players like Aboubakar or Bassogog the freedom they had in the first match. We need to close down the spaces and stay compact. There is no room for error now.”

Beyond tactical adjustments, Firat believes that the biggest challenge for his side is the mental approach.

“Cameroon were much more physical, aggressive, and hungrier than us. They came into the game with a winning mentality, and it showed. In the second leg, we have to change our mindset. We need to go man-to-man and fight for every ball, every inch on the field.”

“This is a do-or-die match for us. If we fail here, it could be the end of our Afcon dream. The players know what’s at stake, and I believe they will rise to the challenge.”

Much of Kenya’s attacking hopes rest on the shoulders of captain Olunga, who netted the consolation goal in the first leg. The Al-Duhail striker has been Kenya’s most reliable scorer in recent years, and Firat will be counting on him to lead by example.

“Olunga is our key man upfront, no question about it,” Firat said. “He’s a natural finisher, but he needs better service from the midfield. We didn’t give him enough chances in the first leg, and that has to change. We need to be more creative going forward, and the entire team has to work harder to get the ball to him in dangerous positions.”

With two matches remaining in the qualifiers after their showdown with Cameroon, Kenya’s fate in Group J hangs by a thread.

Avoiding defeat in the upcoming game is crucial to keeping their Afcon hopes alive, but Firat remains cautiously optimistic.

“We still have a chance to qualify, but it all depends on how we perform in the next match,” he said. “We need to show that we are capable of playing at the highest level and that we deserve to be at AFCON next year.”