Harambee Stars coach terms match against Malawi good test ahead of World Cup Qualifiers

Harambee Stars head coach, Engin Firat, reflected on Kenya’s impressive 4-0 victory over Malawi in the Four Nations Tournament semi-final, praising the resilience shown by the opponents.

Despite the commanding scoreline, Firat acknowledged Malawi’s fighting spirit, especially towards the end of the match, and commended the vibrant atmosphere in the stadium.

Harambee Stars coach satisfaction

Expressing satisfaction with his team’s performance, Firat highlighted the importance of playing under pressure, a valuable experience for the players ahead of upcoming qualifiers.

“Malawi had good fighting towards the end, the atmosphere was very nice in the stadium. It was a good test for the World Cup qualifiers, because we have to play under pressure and here it was also pressure. The young players learnt alot. I hope the fans will support us in the finals,” Firat said after the match.

Firat lauded the contributions of debutants Chris Erambo and Vincent Mahiga, along with substitute Jonah Ayunga, expressing confidence in their abilities.

He viewed the match as a valuable opportunity to assess new talent, particularly as several regular players were absent.

“We have a lot of new players as a lot of players are missing. This was an opportunity to see the boys and the players who came in. We had four players playing for the national team for the first time. I think they have done a very good job,” he added

In the match itself, Michael Olunga’s early brace set the tone for Kenya’s dominant display. Olunga’s goals, including a penalty, showcased his clinical finishing and contributed to Kenya’s commanding lead.

Harambee Stars performance

Despite Malawi’s efforts to rally, Kenya’s defense, led by goalkeeper Patrick Matasi, held firm, with standout performances from new additions such as Mahiga.

The second half saw Kenya’s continued dominance, with Ayub Timbe and John Avire adding to the scoreline with well-taken goals. Timbe’s goal, created by Richard Odada’s impressive play under pressure, demonstrated Kenya’s attacking prowess.

Avire’s strike from distance further extinguished any hopes of a Malawian comeback.With the victory, Kenya progressed to the tournament final, poised to compete against Zimbabwe for the title.