Harambee Stars defender Abud Omar has called on the team to improve their penalty-taking after Kenya fell 5-4 to Estonia in a post-match shootout following a 1-1 draw in the ongoing FIFA Series tournament in Kigali, Rwanda.
Kenya put up a spirited performance against the European side with Ryan Ogam scoring the equalizer in the second half, with both teams settling for a 1-all draw before the match was decided through spot kicks.
The shootout determined which team would proceed to the final to face hosts Rwanda and which side would drop to the third-place playoff against Grenada.
In the shootout, Austine Odhiambo, Chris Erambo, Benstanley Omondi and Lawrence Okoth successfully converted their penalties for Kenya, while Mohammed Bajaber and Richard Odada missed their attempts.
Goalkeeper Ian Otieno managed to save one penalty, but it was not enough to stop Estonia from securing a 5-4 victory and booking a place in the final against Rwanda.
The defeat marked the second time under head coach Benni McCarthy that Harambee Stars have lost a crucial match through penalties, with a similar situation having occurred during the CHAN quarter-finals last year against Madagascar.
The recurring challenge in shootouts has now become an area of concern for the team as they continue to rebuild under the South African tactician.
Harambee Stars defender Abud Omar reveals what the team needs to work on after loss to Estonia
Kenya Police FC captain Abud Omar, who featured in the match against Estonia and also captained Harambee Stars during the historic CHAN campaign co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, believes the team must now focus on improving their composure and execution during penalties.
“We have to be prepared in taking penalties. As you know yesterday we took some penalties in training, but as you know in penalties even if you prepare for two months, penalties are a 50-50 chance. But again we have to do our best because this is the second time that we are losing on penalties and I think going forward we need to learn our lessons and rectify our mistakes,” said Omar.
Despite the disappointing result, Kenyan fans in Kigali showed their support for the national team throughout the match, creating a lively atmosphere at the stadium. Omar took time to appreciate the supporters who turned up to cheer the team, noting that their presence played a big role in motivating the players.
“We really appreciate them even though they were not many, but we could see them and hear their voices, so we appreciate them and ask them to come for our next match because at the end of the day we are all Kenyans,” he added.
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With Harambee Stars now set to face Grenada in the third-place playoff, Omar believes the team must shift focus quickly and aim to finish the FIFA Series campaign on a positive note.
The experienced defender is hopeful that the lessons learned from the Estonia match,particularly on penalty shootouts and game management will help the team improve as they continue building momentum ahead of the 2027 AFCON to be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
Kenya will now be looking to bounce back strongly against Grenada, with Abud Omar and his teammates determined to deliver a convincing performance and give their supporters something to celebrate as they conclude their FIFA Series campaign in Kigali.