- The Kenya vs Burkina Faso match is expected to start at 8:15 PM EAT on Saturday.
- Harambee Stars have a better head-to-head record going into the tie.
- Francis Kimanzi has stated that his mind is not preoccupied by the good record that Kenya has over Burkina Faso.
The Kenya men’s national football team interim head coach Francis Kimanzi is optimistic that his boys will perform well at the 2025 Mapinduzi Cup that is taking place in Zanzibar from 3-13 January.
Harambee Stars are expected to kick start their campaign on Saturday night from exactly 8:15 PM East African Time (EAT) against West African side Burkina Faso.
The crunch fixture is scheduled to be played at the Gombani Stadium in Pemba, an Island domiciled in the Northern part of Zanzibar.
Kenya and Burkina Faso have locked horns several times in the past with the East Africans boosting of better head-to-head record.
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The most recent meeting between the two nations took place in the 2004 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) where Harambee Stars secured a huge 3-0 win at the 15 October Stadium in Bizerte, Tunisia.
All the goals came in the second half courtesy of Emmanuel Ake (53’) Dennis Oliech (63’) and John Baraza (83’).
Besides that memorable victory, Harambee Stars have also managed to beat Burkina Faso twice and lost once.
Those victories came in the 1997 FIFA World Cup qualifiers where Kenya triumphed in both legs while the defeat occurred during a friendly match that took place in 2000.
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Speaking ahead of the upcoming tie that will be aired on Azam TV, Kimanzi stated that the past results do not preoccupy his mind.
“Although we have this history against Burkina Faso, it was a long time ago. What happened, happened. The objective and the aim we have for the players is different.
So, we are hoping that they will give themselves a very good account of themselves. They will play well. Work so hard also to make the invitation successful,” he explained.
His sentiments were echoed by the team’s skipper Abud Omar, who said that they will take each game seriously.
Harambee Stars captain Abud Omar
“Our main goal is the African Nations Championship (CHAN), but we will also take this Mapinduzi Cup very seriously because we have come to win the cup, not only to participate.
So, we will take this tournament very seriously and also focus on CHAN,” commented the Kenya Police FC left-back.
Apart from Kenya and Burkina Faso, three other countries including Tanzania, Zanzibar and Uganda will take part in the tournament that is scheduled to end on January 13.
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