Listen to This Article Enhance your reading experience by listening to this article.

After failing to secure a spot in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) final, slated for Morocco next year, the national men’s football team, Harambee Stars, will throw their last dice in the qualification campaign with a ‘meaningless’ game against a struggling Namibia today at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, South Africa.

One of the big tasks for Harambee Stars head coach Engin Firat has been lifting the team’s morale for today’s game after suffering a detrimental 1-1 draw against Zimbabwe last Friday, an outcome that led to their elimination from the qualifiers for the continental football fiesta.

Namibia, on their part, managed an impressive 0-0 draw against African giants Cameroon in their matchday-four encounter and will be seeking their first win in Group J against a ‘resuscitating’ Harambee Stars.

Today’s ball game will be a different challenge altogether, considering that it is a dead rubber match, with the primary purpose being to honour the Caf calendar. The scenario could have been different had Kenya beaten the Warriors last Friday, but what was supposed to be a fate-decider for the CeCafa region’s team has now been reduced to a friendly match in Polokwane.

Coach Firat is likely to make significant changes to his squad for the fixture, with a high possibility of handing minutes to players who have been on the bench for most of the qualifying campaign.

The Turkish coach noted that the team has an obligation to step up for the Namibia clash despite the ‘sadness’ caused by the draw against Zimbabwe last week.

“Everything is possible. You know at the end it does not change the fact the we are a national team of Kenya. Therefore, there is no excuse if we are tired, sad or not. We have to come together mentally and to be ready for this match because we are playing for Kenya. We will try our best to win this match, there is no excuse that we are down mentally down at this moment. We will try our best and give everything,” Firat conveyed.

Some of the players expected to be handed playtime include Rising Stars captain Amos Wanjala, who has been promoted to the senior team for the first time. Wanjala, who plays for FC Tollerano in Spain, captained the Kenya U-20 team to Afcon qualification following a successful Cecafa outing in Tanzania, despite losing in the final to the hosts.

The former St Anthony’s Kitale and Ulinzi Stars midfielder is one of the few players in the squad yet to make a senior debut for Harambee Stars, and this could be his big day.

The Stars will be without dependable Stade Reims center-back Joseph Okumu, who limped off during the previous game with a reported groin injury. Okumu has already traveled back to France to link up with his club for further assessment and treatment.

The New Saints forward Adam Wilson, IF Elfsborg’s Timothy ‘Babu’ Ouma and goalkeeper Ian Otieno are also unavailable for selection due to personal reasons.

Utility player Amos Nondi will miss the game due to a suspension for accumulating yellow cards. Dundee United midfielder Richard Odada makes a comeback for the Namibia clash after missing the match against Zimbabwe due to suspension.

The 4 PM kick-off game today will be the eighth meeting between Kenya and Namibia. The visitors have enjoyed better fortunes in their last seven encounters, winning four, while Harambee Stars have won three matches.

Kenya’s only win in Group J came against Namibia in Johannesburg, where John Avire and Duke Abuya scored in a 2-1 victory on the road.

Ahead of the final matches, Cameroon leads the group standings with 11 points, Zimbabwe is second with 9 points, Kenya is third with 5 points whereas Namibia is bottom with just one point from five games.