By Tony Kipkorir
Cameroon is set to host Kenya’s national football team, Harambee Stars, in a crunch African Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 qualifying match on Friday night at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaounde.
Harambee Stars will be seeking to beat the multiple continental champions for the first time in their history, having tried and failed in eight previous fixtures.
In those head-to-head encounters, Cameroon picked up four wins with the rest of the matches ending in a draw.
The Indomitable Lions secured a comfortable 3-1 victory in their last meeting which took place at the Moi International Sports Centre (MISC), Kasarani in January 2010.
In that match, Kenya’s goal was scored by James Situma while Idrissou Mohammed and Emana Achile were on the score sheet for Cameroon, with the latter scoring a brace.
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The two sides go into the game tied on four points each, one behind leaders Zimbabwe who have played an extra game.
Speaking ahead of the eagerly anticipated showdown, Harambee Stars head coach Engin Firat acknowledged that they will have to be at their best to cage the Indomitable Lions.
“We know how hard it will be, but I think we are on the level where only the details will decide. I don’t believe that it will be easy for Cameroon even if they have no missing player.
But this time I am happy that we have only few players missing, because before we had many players absent,” he stated.
Harambee Stars
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Firat’s squad has been boosted by the return of red-hot forward Michael Olunga who missed recent matches due to an injury.
Olunga, who took over the armband after former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Victor Wanyama retired from international football, has expressed confidence of Harambee Stars returning with something from West Africa.
“It has a been a while since we had our full squad and I believe know we are close to complete, but still there is room for improvement. But all players you know are capable, you saw in the first two games we had a lot of players who did not play before but they came into the squad and delivered.
Now we have a strong team that can compete. We know the task ahead. Cameroon is one of the favorites in the group. They are a strong opponent. Everybody knows their history with football but also has we have four points similar to them, so it is a game of six points to play for,” explained the Qatar-based player.
A victory for Harambee Stars on Friday will increase their chances of qualifying for the AFCON tournament for the first time since the 2019 edition which was staged in Egypt.
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Current Form
Cameroon: LWDWD
Kenya: WLWDW
Possible Starting Lineups
Cameroon: Onana, Tchatchoua, Ngadeu, Wooh, Nouhou, Anguissa, Baleba, Hongla, Mbeumo, Bassogog, Aboubakar
Kenya: Matasi, Nondi, Okumu, Owino, Ouma, Odada, Akumu, Abuya, Avire, Ayunga, Olunga
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