‘Burundi are not underdogs’ – Sofapaka’s Razak warns Kenya ahead of WC qualifier
By Vincent Voiyoh, August 7, 2023Returning Sofapaka forward Fistone Abdul Razak has thrown warning words towards Kenya national football team Harambee Stars ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifier game against his team, Burundi.
According to Razak, Burundi is in great shape and they no longer fear any opposition in their way, adding that some years back they (Burundi) were panic-stricken when paired to face Harambee Stars but the feeling is no longer there and that Kenya should prepare for a monumental football war when they face each other.
I asked the player how he feels about that Burundi against Kenya fixture and he responded swiftly.
“Kenya will lose. I am telling you the truth, we have a different Burundi, it is not like the Burundi of yester-years when we used to be terrified while facing Kenya.
Previously, we used to pray and celebrate with a draw against Harambee Stars but this time we are on another level, even if we were to face Mali, Gabon or even Senegal we no longer panic, we tackle them head-on. Therefore, Kenya should come well prepared,” Razak said confidently.
Harambee Stars which is ranked 35 places above Burundi is also set to face Ivory Coast, Gabon, Gambia and Seychelles in Group F’s matches of the CAF World Cup Qualifiers.
The date and venues are yet to be established as CAF is yet to give order of play for the encounters set for the November commencement.
The industrious Abdul Razak who is part of the 17 new players unveiled by football club Sofapaka ahead of new the Football Kenya Federation Premier League season says Burundi is enjoying a massive improvement currently and that their football has seen immense growth that saw them qualify for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in their history.
He is optimistic that the Swallows (Intamba m’Urugamba) can mirror the epic performance they displayed in AFCON qualifiers four years ago to give a good account of themselves in their pursuit for a maiden World Cup appearance.
“For sure we have a chance to qualify to the World Cup because we have a good team with great talents and quality. I believe we are capable unless God decides that it is not our time yet. When you look back on our journey to 2019 African Cup of Nations qualification, we played six matches and finished unbeaten in the group that had Mali and Gabon.
“Many people had written us off and gave Mali and Gabon a near direct pass to AFCON but on the pitch, it was different, we never lost a game and I was among the top scorers in that qualification campaign.”
Burundi is ranked in position 140 in global football and was scheduled to face Kenya in March in a friendly match before the game was aborted.
The Ettienne Ndayiragije-coached side decided to face Indonesia in Bakasi where they lost 3-1 in the first encounter on March 25 and forced a 2-2 draw against their Asian hosts at the same venue three days later.
Last month, a high-spirited Burundi thrashed Namibia 3-2 at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar Es Salaam Tanzania and on the brink of another AFCON ticket should they get at least a draw away to Cameroon in the final do or die fixture in September.