Harambee Stars lose again as Cameroon qualify for 2025 Afcon

Harambee Stars defender Jospeh Okumu. [Harambee Stars,X]

Harambee Stars bid to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations next year in Morocco were dealt a further blow on Monday evening after losing to Cameroon 1-0 at Mandela National Stadium in Uganda.

Kenya who were seeking to bounce back from a humiliating 4-1 defeat last week in Yaounde wasted many chances as they remain third in Group J with four points.

Cameroon stretched their lead at the top to 10 points and are on course to qualify for the continental games.

Kenya on the other hand must now win their remaining two matches against Zimbabwe and Namibia and hope Zimbabwe who are second, lose all of their remaining matches.

The match started balanced with both sides exchanging early passes, Cameroon patient while Kenya vigilant not to concede many goals like they did in Yaounde last week.

Bryne Odhiambo who replaced the erroneous Patrick Matasi in goal alerted the Cameroonians that there was a new guard between the posts when he stopped a low shot from the edge of the box from Vincent Aboubakar in the 14^th minute, the visitors first attempt in goal.

A number of attacks followed with Bryan Mbeumo and Nicolas Moumi Ngamaleu causing trouble from the right and left wings respectively but they were met with equal measure from Star’s full backs Erick Ouma and Johnstone Omurwa.

The best chance of the opening half came in the 21^st minute when Michael Olunga robbed a sloppy Jean-Charles Castelletto in defense to stroll one-on-one with Andre Onana.

Shockingly and unselfishly, Olunga squared the ball to Duke Abuya who instead of shooting from a central position passed the ball to a surging John Avire who could only blast the opportunity wide after being pressured by Michael Ngadeu.

Martin Hongla who found the back of the net during Cameroon’s 4-1win last week called Bryne Odhiambo to action again, this time the Kenyan shot stopper forced to punch away Hongla’s left footed shot 25 yards from goal for a corner kick in the 30^th minute.

In the 35^th minute, Cameroon who were pilling more pressure on Stars were granted their first clear opportunity to take the lead when a through ball deep from the midfield found a rushing Pierre Kunde who despite remaining with Bryne Odhiambo to beat sent his effort wide.

Cameroon had the ball in the net in the 40^th minute after a controversial free kick at the edge of the box but Nouhou Tolo’s tap in from the set piece was judged offside after the left back guided a loose ball from Mbeumo past a sleeping Kenyan defense.

The match headed to the break at 0-0 with Kenya hopping to avoid defeat.

In the final half, Cameroonian center back Michael Ngadeu thought he gave the Indomitable Lions the lead with a powerful header in the 51^st minute but Bryne Odhiambo once again denied the five-time AFCON champions with a brilliant save to keep the scores 0-0.

Kenya’s second best chance followed two minutes later when Rooney Onyango finished off a well attacking move from the right wing but his thunderbolt inside the box could only hit the right post with Onana well beaten. Olunga could only send the rebound wide unexpectedly with a wide open net gapping.

Three minutes after the hour mark, Boris Enow came off the bench to give Cameroon the lead with a thunderbolt left foot free kick that even a flying Odhiambo who had been fantastic for 63 minutes could only watch slip into the back of the net.

The goal hurt the Kenyan spirit as Cameroon dominated the game until the last five minutes when Stars should have equalized twice but missed to convert their chances as deliveries from the wings went wasteful.

Harambee Stars lineup

Starting 11: Byrne Omondi, Daniel Anyembe, Joseph Okumu, Johnstone Omurwa, Eric Ouma, Richard Odada, Anthony Akumu, Duke Abuya, Ronney Onyango, John Avire, Michael Olunga,

Subs: Patrick Matasi, Ian Otieno, Alphonce Omija, Amos Nondi, Collins Sichenje, Geoffrey Ochieng, Sylvester Owino, John Ochieng, Chrispine Erambo, Timothy Ouma, Jonah Ayunga, Adam Wilson, Alfred Scriven