Underprepared Harambee Stars eye first win over Eritrea in 20 years in AFCON 2027 qualifier

Kenya host Eritrea at the Nyayo National Stadium as both sides head into Round 1 of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualification (Group D) campaign.

Saturday’s clash will mark the 11th meeting between Kenya and Eritrea since their first meeting on December 8, 1994, in the CECAFA Cup.Kenya last beat Eritrea in December 2003 with a 3–2 victory in Sudan during the CECAFA Cup.

Although Kenya have already secured automatic qualification for AFCON 2027 as tournament co-hosts alongside Uganda and Tanzania, McCarthy’s side are treating the group phase as preparation. Harambee Stars will look to kick off Group D with maximum points before travelling to West Africa to face Guinea.

On the other hand, Eritrea arrive in Nairobi looking to pull off an upset in their opening group fixture. The Red Sea Camels have proven to be tricky opponents for Kenya in past regional and continental encounters, and they enter the contest intent on taking advantage of any pressure on the home side.

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The match will take place at the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi. Kickoff is scheduled for 16:00 EAT on Saturday, September 26.

Harambee Stars captain Michael Olunga will miss the clash with injury, while Collins Sichenje and Joseph Okumu are among the long-term absentees.

To mitigate past risks of domestic player defections during away travel, Eritrea head coach Hesham Yakan has heavily leaned on overseas diaspora talent. Star players include striker Ali Suleman (Al Masry), Siem Eyob (Sheffield United), and midfielder Tesfaldet Tekie (Hammarby).

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Benni McCarthy (Kenya Head Coach):

“We have faced incredible difficulties off the pitch from unpaid allowances to issues that should never be present in a professional national team setup. But once we step onto that pitch, all of that stays in the dressing room. We have a duty to perform for the country.”

“These situations build character. If we can stay united through this storm and get the result on Saturday, it shows the mental strength of this team. We want to make the fans proud.”

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Hesham Yakan (Eritrea Head Coach):

“The team’s five-year plan is to become competitive in Africa. Most of rhe players are between 21 and 26 years old, and they are perfectly suited to long-term development.”

“Preparations are complete, and the team is heading into the match with one objective: win and stay in the race for qualification.”

Kenya: Faruk Shikhalo, Rooney Onyango, Abud Omar, Haniff Wesonga, Frank Odhiambo, Mansur Okwaro, Duke Abuya, Timothy Ouma, Shariff Musa, Ryan Ogam, Job Ochieng’.

Eritrea: Yonathan Sultan, Victor Fors, Jonas Idris, Jamal Ali, Medhanie Redae Niwayu, Ablelom Teklezgi, Nahom Netabay, Namrud Embaye, Ali Suleman, Oliver Hintsa, Nobel Gebrezgi.

• Kenya wins: 6
• Draws: 1
• Eritrea wins: 3

Kenya and Eritrea have met 10 times in senior international football, with Harambee Stars winning six, drawing one, and losing three, scoring 14 goals and conceding 11.

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Stats & Key Trends

Kenya went unbeaten in their first seven international encounters against Eritrea between 1994 and 2003 (W6 D1), keeping clean sheets in four of those matches.

Eritrea boast a 100% win rate against Kenya in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches (2/2).

Eritrea’s 4–1 victory over Kenya in the 2019 CECAFA Cup semifinal represents both their largest ever win in this fixture and Kenya’s heaviest defeat against the Red Sea Camels.

Following Saturday’s clash at Nyayo Stadium, Kenya will travel to Conakry to face Guinea on Thursday, October 1, before hosting South Africa on November 11 in their third Group D fixture.

Eritrea, meanwhile, will host South Africa in Cairo on Wednesday, September 30, before facing Guinea away on November 11.