Harambee Stars coach Engin Firat has assured fans that they will see a team that fights until the last second in their crucial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) Qualifiers against Zimbabwe and Namibia this month, despite the team facing multiple injury setbacks.
Harambee Stars, in search of an Afcon ticket for the first time since 2019, landed safely and set up base in Kampala, Uganda, ahead of their opener at Namboole Stadium on Friday against the Warriors.
Coach Firat is optimistic that the national side is in a strong position to qualify for the continent’s premier football tournament, slated for Morocco later in 2025.
Harambee Stars aim to secure maximum points in the opening round of the qualifiers against Cosafa’s Zimbabwe and Namibia.
“People need to understand that it’s not about what we do in the first two games but how many points we have at the end. Our focus is on not losing, especially in this group. All teams have strong squads, so if we don’t lose, the rivals won’t get three points. It’s crucial to perform well in the last two matches in November. If everything is in our hands then we will be in a good position, and we are optimistic about making it to Afcon,” Turkish tactitian Firat told People Sport.
Kenya is in Group J on the road to the next Africa Cup of Nations, alongside five-time Afcon winners Cameroon and Cosafa’s Namibia and Zimbabwe.
Coach Firat expects tough competition from the group challengers but promises to assemble a team that will fight for the pride of the nation until the final whistle.
“I have respect for my opponents and know their strength. We will do our best. It’s not about perfect preparation or having the ideal squad, but expect a team that fights until the last second of the match,” Firat added.
The Stars arrived in Kampala with only four foreign-based players who participated in the team’s last training session in Nairobi esterday evening.
The quartet includes utility player Amos Nondi of Ararat in Armenia, Yanga’s Duke Abuya, strikers John Avire (Porto Suez) and Benson Omalla (Safa SC).
Left-back Eric Ouma and attacker Eric Johana have already joined the rest of the squad in Kampala.
Despite injury concerns, captain Michael Olunga is expected to join the team today in Kampala.
Following his team’s first win of the season in French Ligue 1 with a 2-1 home victory against Rennes on Sunday, Stade Reims defender Joseph Stanley Okumu is set to join the Harambee Stars camp this evening.
Richard Odada, John Ayunga, and Timothy Babu Ouma, other players based abroad, were also scheduled to join the camp by Tuesday.
Harambee Stars will play at the refurbished Namboole Stadium against Zimbabwe on Friday and will then travel to Johannesburg to face Namibia on September 10.
