On a day that saw over seven players – Michael Olunga, Timothy Ouma, Johnstone Omurwa, Daniel Anyembe, Ayub Timbe, Collins Sichenje, Alphonse Omija – missing action through injury or personal reasons, the men’s national football team, Harambee Stars, recorded an emphatic 1-2 victory against Namibia to pump life into their hopes of making it to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tourney set for Morocco.
Playing in an empty Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, the Engin Firat-coached side delivered a vital result as two different, but well-crafted, goals from John Avire and Duke Abuya got the job done to hand Kenya their first win in Group J in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers.
By the end of the first half, the game did not look as though it had two goals to come in the second period, especially from a Kenyan side that had managed five attempts on goal but none on target with Namibia managing one shot on target from their five attempts.
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Infact, Kenya appeared as though they were just hanging by a thread as the Namibians looked the likeliest to score and could have done so early in the second half only for Bryne Omondi’s reflexes to save the day as he directed Aprocious Petrus’ goal-bound shot onto the post before the Kenyan defender cleared danger.
With clear-cut chances few and far in between, it was only right that the deadlock was broken spectacularly as former Sofapaka man Avire, who currently plies his trade with Egyptian outfit Sekka El Hadid, gave Namibian keeper Loydt Kazapua no chance with an exquisite free kick from just outside the box that gave Kenya the lead in the 58th minute.
Having gone down in their ‘home’ match, Namibia pushed numbers forward in search of at least an equalizer to salvage a point especially after their 1-0 loss to Cameroon in their group opener.
Their search for an equalizing goal came at a cost as Kenya punished them with a deadly counter attack launched by Eric ‘Marcelo’ Ouma who ran from inside his own half before cutting the ball back to Yanga’s Abuya who took a first-time shot that rifled into the back of the net to double Kenya’s lead.
Immediately after, Kenya showed little interest in seeking a third, and Firat, upon sensing the need to protect the two-goal cushion, brought left back Abud Omar in place of Avire two minutes after the goal.
With nothing to lose in the final minutes, Namibia pushed bodies foward and managed to find a consolation goal in the fifth minute of added time when Orlando Pirates star Deon Hotto curled in his free kick into the bottom corner as Bryne stood without much promise.
Harambee Stars move top of Group J
That attempt however proved too little too late as Kenya held on for a vital first win that saw them race to the top of Group J courtesy of more goals scored (+2) compared to giants Cameroon (+1) who are also on four points after being held to a barren draw by Zimbabwe.
Harambee Stars Starting XI: Bryne Omondi, Amos Nondi, Erick Ouma, Joseph Okumu, Sylvester Owino, Anthony Akumu, Ronney Onyango (Kenneth Muguna 59′), Richard Odada, Jonah Ayunga (Victor Omune 89′), Duke Abuya, John Avire (Abud Omar 78′)
ALSO READ: SportPesa launch revolutionary Tujiamini Initiative to nurture talent
Tujiamini is an initiative that seeks to provide a platform, including up to 30M shillings in funding, for individual, team sports and various talent, in a year-long campaign that will go around the country in a move aimed at evoking the sense of pride in Kenya’s sports and talent ecosystem.
Applicants are urged to submit their applications through www.tujiamini.co.ke