Harambee Stars head coach Engin Firat has said that his players should remain strong as they hunt for points in a bid to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations finals.
Kenya will host Zimbabwe in Kampala, Uganda, as they start the AFCON qualifiers on September 6, 2024, and Firat wants his charges, who began training on Monday, September 2, 2024, to focus and remain strong in the campaign.
“Till the last match, everything will be open in this group. Therefore, it is important that we stay mentally ready. In the future, we might have problems.
“I have never been in the Kenyan camp without problems, so for us, it is important to stay mentally strong,” Firat said, as quoted by a local publication.
Kenya will battle Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Cameroon, and Firat has analysed the opponents before he clashes with them.
“In this group, it is important not to lose. You will see in this group, there won’t be many matches where teams will finish with wins.
“All teams are very close to each other and have their own problems. All struggle, especially if they play against teams that sit deep,” he added.
Meanwhile, forty-eight African nations will compete in the qualifiers for the 35th edition of the AFCON, aiming to challenge reigning champions Ivory Coast, coached by Emerse Fae, who made history by becoming among the African-born coaches to do so.
The qualifiers, running from September to November 2024, will see the top team and runner-up from each of the eleven groups, excluding Morocco, the tournament host, advance to the finals.
Harambee Stars final squad
Goalkeepers: Levis Opiyo, Patrick Matasi, Byrne Omondi
Defenders: Sharrif Majabe, Joseph Okumu, Johnstone Omurwa, Amos Nondi, Abud Omar, Eric Ouma, Sylvester Owino, Alphonce Omija
Midfielders: Chris Erambo, Richard Odada, Anthony Akumu, Kenneth Muguna, Eric Johanna, Ronney Onyango, Austine Odhiambo, Duke Abuya, Timothy Ouma
Forwards: John Avire, Michael Olunga, Jonah Ayunga, Benson Omalla, Victor Omune
