Gor Mahia’s Austin Odhiambo explains why Harambee Stars must beat Zambia
By Luke Oluoch, August 17, 2025Gor Mahia and Harambee Stars ace Austin Odhiambo has spoken on why the team must beat Zambia in their final Group A clash scheduled for Sunday, August 17, 2025, at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.
Speaking on Saturday, August 16, 2025, Austine stated that victory will come in handy in boosting their confidence levels as the continental games enter the crucial knockout stages.
The midfielder, who is Kenya’s top scorer with a couple of goals from the opening two games, says they are primed for the game against the Zambia team.
Group winners
“We are ready for the game. We know the importance of the match, as we want to proceed to the next stage by finishing top of our group as the winners. So we are doing all to ensure we win the game,” he stated.
He also lauded the crucial role of the Kenyan supporters who have turned out in large numbers, noting that the nation coming together during the auspicious football bonanza has propelled the national team to the fine results.
Support from fans
Austine stressed that the rousing atmosphere from Kenyan fans had made him appreciate the invaluable role of having loyal supporters behind the team.
“As a player, I have known the importance of fans. They truly mean a lot to football, and they are an integral part of the game.
“The fans, the government through the president, and all the people who have come through to make this happen—I feel for the first time the whole country has come together, making it easier for us to get the results on the pitch,” he added.
He further observed that playing the next ties in front of the charged crowd will be key to Kenya’s chances of reaching the latter stages of the continental competitions.
‘Firstly, it’s important, as we will play our games at home, which is very key. It will not only give us the home advantage but also the motivation to face the next challenge. Playing at home and in front of our fans,” he added.
This comes as Kenya looks to entertain either Madagascar or Tanzania’s Taifa Stars in their next stages of the quarterfinal phase.
The pair emerged as the best sides from their African Nations Championship Group B on Saturday, August 16, 2025.
Tanzania, who enjoyed an unbeaten start to the tournament, secured progress with an unbeaten record following a barren draw against the Central African Republic.
On their part, Madagascar edged Burkina Faso 2-1 in the other Group B duel, joining Taifa Stars in the last eight.
The islanders’ side recorded a couple of wins, one draw, and only tasted defeat in a 2-0 scoreline against hosts Tanzania during their group ties in Tanzania.
The group winners will remain in Dar es Salaam for the quarter-final stage as Madagascar travels to Nairobi to face off against the group winners from pool A.