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The Nairobian

Harambee Stars face Namibia in must-win AFCON 2025 qualifier from 7pm

Football

By Washington Onyango | Sep 10, 2024

**Harambee Stars striker Benson Omalla during a past training session.** [Harambee Stars,X]

Harambee Stars are gearing up for a crucial 2025 AFCON qualifier match against Namibia on Tuesday at Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Just like Kenya and Zimbabwe, Namibia also lacks CAF certified stadia that can host international games and thus will play their home matches away from home.

After opening their campaign with a goalless draw against Zimbabwe, Kenya is determined to secure their first victory in the group stage to keep their AFCON hopes alive.

In their first match, Kenya earned a point at Mandela Stadium, sharing spoils with Zimbabwe. Cameroon currently tops Group J after defeating Namibia 1-0, leaving the Indomitable Lions with three points.

Meanwhile, Kenya and Zimbabwe are tied on one point each, while Namibia remains bottom of the group without a point after their loss to Cameroon.

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With only two teams from each group advancing to the 2025 AFCON tournament, which will be hosted by Morocco, this fixture is pivotal for both Kenya and Namibia.

A win for Harambee Stars would not only give them momentum but also place them in a favorable position to compete for a top-two spot in the group. On the same day, Cameroon will face Zimbabwe in the other Group J encounter, further complicating the qualification race.

Historically, Namibia has had the upper hand against Kenya, winning four of their last six encounters since 1996.

However, Kenya's last victory against the Brave Warriors came over a decade ago during the 2014 World Cup qualifiers, when they secured a narrow 1-0 win at home in Nairobi.

Kenya’s only other win over Namibia came in the 2010 World Cup qualifiers, splitting the results between the two sides after Namibia had won the first leg.

Kenya, ranked 108th in the latest FIFA World Rankings, is seeking their first AFCON appearance since 2019, when they exited in the group stage.

The team has faced recent struggles, including a disappointing run in the 2024 COSAFA Cup in July, where they were eliminated in the group stage despite earning six points. Head coach Engin Firat will be hoping to reverse the team’s fortunes with fresh talent.

Notably, Harambee Stars will be without captain Michael Olunga, one of their most consistent players in recent years.

Firat is expected to turn to Jonah Ayunga, Benson Omala, or John Avire to lead the line after their underwhelming performance against Zimbabwe. Defender Alphonce Omija is also sidelined due to injury.

On the Namibian side, they will be looking to bounce back from their back-to-back defeats. After falling 1-0 to Cameroon in their first AFCON qualifier, the Brave Warriors are now winless in their last two matches, including a 5-0 loss to Angola in the 2024 COSAFA Cup final.

Despite their current struggles, Namibia poses a significant challenge, as they aim to rekindle the form that saw them defeat Kenya in past encounters.

With the stakes high, both teams are under pressure to perform, making this a must-win match for Harambee Stars if they are to maintain their AFCON dreams.

Tuesday’s clash promises to be an intense and closely contested affair as Kenya battles Namibia for vital points in their journey to Morocco 2025.