Aboubacar Traoré’s late equalizer for Burkina Faso denied Harambee Stars all three points in their opening match of the ongoing 2025 Mapinduzi Cup, as both teams shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw at the Gamboni Stadium in Zanzibar on Saturday evening.
KCB midfielder James Kinyanjui had broken the deadlock in the first half to give Kenya the lead, but they were unable to maintain it until the final whistle.
As a result, Zanzibar remains the only team to have secured three points after their 1-0 victory over Tanzania on Friday at the same venue.
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The tournament initially featured six teams and was divided into two groups of three. However, with the withdrawal of Uganda and Burundi, it was restructured into a single-phase competition, with the top two teams will be advancing to the final.
For the national team, this result means they have now gone seven straight matches without a win, even under new interim coach Francis Kimanzi.
Kimanzi, reacting to the match, stated that the first match is always tough as players may lack morale and have not yet familiarized themselves with the match environment.
“The first match is always difficult because players might not have the morale to play since it’s the opening game,” Kimanzi said after the match. “But the way they handled the match today gives us hope, and I am confident they will do better in the next one.”
Kimanzi mentioned that the match was so intense it led to substitutions in the second half. However, the changes did not yield the desired result in the final minutes.
“As I said, the first match has its intensity, and the players were a bit panicked, which is why we made some changes in the second half to maintain the lead.”
“It was a good game, and we are now focusing on the next match, hoping to deliver better results.”
The match saw both teams fighting for control, with Kenya showing early intent to break down Burkina Faso’s defense, though their efforts were initially futile.
It was not until just before halftime that the breakthrough came. A free kick, earned in additional time of the first half, was swiftly delivered by Boniface Muchiri and found James Kinyanjui, who coolly slotted the ball home with a header to give Kenya a 1-0 lead heading into the break.
Kenya, determined to maintain their advantage, made strategic changes, including a triple substitution in the 67th minute. Darius Msagah, Chrispine Erambo, and Bajaber Mohammed replaced Michael Mutinda, James Kinyanjui, and Kelly Madada, adding energy to Kenya’s play.
As the match neared full time, Burkina Faso capitalized on a momentary lapse in Kenya’s defense. Aboubacar Traoré netted an equalizer in the 89th minute after a ball crossed from the left wing, allowing Traoré to head it home and seal the full-time score at 1-1.
Harambee Stars now focus to their second tournament match against hosts Tanzania, scheduled for Tuesday, January 7, 2025.
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