SportsNews
Kenya’s AFCON chances in limbo after back-to-back losses to Cameroon
- Harambee Stars consecutive losses to Cameroon have left the country’s chances of qualifying for next year’s AFCON in jeopardy
- Kenya’s situation was complicated further by Zimbabwe’s back-to-back wins against Namibia, who were at the last AFCON
- Kenya are seeking to return to the biggest continental stage since 2019 as they prepare to host the 2027 edition
Kenya’s national football team is set to suffer another classic case of ‘so close, yet so far’ as far as qualifying for major tournaments is concerned – unless something huge happens.
At the start of the October international break, Harambee Stars had their own destiny in their own hands in the journey to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
After a draw and a win, Kenya sat joint-top with Cameroon ahead of the doubleheader against the African giants. Decent results in the two games could have reaffirmed the belief that Kenya would return to the continental stage for the first time since 2019.
AFCON 2025 qualification standings
But the desired results didn’t come through. A 4-1 defeat in Yaounde followed by a 1-0 loss in Kampala and all of a sudden, Kenyan fans are staring at an all-too-familiar script.
FT
🇰🇪 0-1 🇨🇲#HarambeeStars pic.twitter.com/wSJGLfRUqf
— Harambee Stars (@Harambee__Stars) October 14, 2024
The result against the five-time African champions wasn’t made better by Zimbabwe’s double haul over Namibia. Group J now has Cameroon at the top with 10 points and an already assured spot in Morocco next year.
Zimbabwe is second with eight points with Kenya further back with four points. Namibia have already been eliminated with zero points so far.
How Kenya can still qualify for AFCON 2025
Now, this is where it gets tricky for Kenya; Zimbabwe only need a point from their remaining two games to make it through. They will host Kenya before going away to Cameroon.
“After four games and back-to-back defeats against Cameroon, it puts Kenya in a very difficult situation. Cameroon have already qualified; Zimbabwe only need a draw against Kenya to qualify,” says journalist Dollar SM to TUKO.co.ke.
https://twitter.com/iDiskiTimes/status/1845886248721822098?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1845886248721822098%7Ctwgr%5Ea7f382272b60e9ec8f890cadb512a405a138a496%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tuko.co.ke%2Fsports%2Ffootball%2F565439-kenyas-afcon-chances-limbo-losses-cameroon%2F
Engin Firat and his side have now been reduced to expecting favours from elsewhere to book a ticket to Morocco.
“Kenya’s only hope is that they win the remaining two matches and Cameroon beat Zimbabwe.”
Should Engin Firat remain as Harambee Stars head coach?
Speaking of Firat, Dollar argues that the Turkish tactician has run his course with the national team and that there is an urgent need for change.
“Firat has run out of his depth. There is nothing new he is offering us at the moment aside from off-pitch theatrics.”
Speaking after the game, Firat acknowledged the dire situation Harambee Stars are in ahead of the November games.
“Our plan was not to come out without points against Cameroon. We did not also expect Namibia to lose three matches considering that they were at the AFCON earlier in the year. It complicated the group further. We have to win the remaining matches so as to qualify,” he said, as quoted by Mozzart Sport.
Onana sent to Ten Hag by Ugandan fans
TUKO.co.ke has also reported that Onana was sent to Erik ten Hag with a clear message.
Onana was mobbed by fans upon his arrival in Uganda for the rematch against Kenya.
A Ugandan man, who identified himself as a Manchester United fan, asked Onana to tell Ten Hag to produce better results.
At least 25 players in the Premier League are set to travel for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
The tournament is scheduled to take place from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
Nigeria, Ivory Coast, DR Congo lead the way in terms of players based in the English topflight, with four selected from each club for the AFCON.
FIFA has directed clubs to release the eligible players from Monday, December 15.
Full list of players confirmed
Sunderland (5):
Chemsdine Talbi (Morocco), Reinildo (Mozambique), Bertrand Traoré (Burkina Faso), Arthur Masuaku (DR Congo), Noah Sadiki (DR Congo).
Manchester United (3):
Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon), Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast), Noussair Mazraoui (Morocco).
Fulham (3):
Alex Iwobi (Nigeria), Calvin Bassey (Nigeria), Samuel Chukwueze (Nigeria).
Burnley (3):
Axel Tuanzebe (DR Congo), Lyle Foster (South Africa), Hannibal Mejbri (Tunisia).
Nottingham Forest (2):
Ibrahim Sangaré (Ivory Coast), Willy Boly (Ivory Coast).
Brentford (2):
Dango Ouattara (Burkina Faso), Frank Onyeka (Nigeria).
Manchester City (1):
Omar Marmoush (Egypt),
West Ham United (1):
Aaron Wan-Bissaka (DR Congo)
Wolves (2):
Tawanda Chirewa (Zimbabwe), Emmanuel Agbadou (Ivory Coast).
Brighton & Hove Albion (1):
Carlos Baleba (Cameroon).
Crystal Palace (2):
Ismaïla Sarr (Senegal), Cheick Doucouré (Mali)
Liverpool (1):
Mohammed Salah (Egypt)
The Nigeria National League, NNL, has announced that matchday six fixture between Ranchers Bees and Adamawa United will be played behind closed doors.
The announcement was made in a statement by the league body.
Only the State Football Association representatives, staff of both teams, kit managers and medical personnel will be allowed into the stadium.
Others are the match officials, security personnel and camera men.
The reason for the decision to play the game without club supporters wasn’t stated by the league body.
The encounter will take place at the Bako Kontagora Stadium in Minna on Saturday (today).
Nigeria’s preparations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations have taken a fresh hit, with Egypt confirming that the highly anticipated friendly between both nations has been shifted from 14 to 16 December.
The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) announced the adjustment late Friday, noting that FIFA’s updated international release directive, which allows clubs keep African players until 15 December, made the original date unworkable.
EFA Vice President Khaled El-Darandaly explained that the new rule left both Egypt and Nigeria without full squads for the initial date.
Key Pharaohs players, including Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush, are now expected to arrive only after the new release window.
Egypt had already named its 28-man provisional squad and opened camp in Cairo, with head coach Hossam Hassan accelerating final preparations for a Group B campaign that includes South Africa, Angola and Zimbabwe.
Nigeria’s disruption is more extensive. The Super Eagles were originally scheduled to open camp on 10 December and progress through a streamlined friendly schedule before departing for Morocco. That entire framework has now been dismantled.
Under the revised timeline, camp will open on 14 December, leaving Eric Chelle with barely a week to prepare before AFCON kicks off.
The venue for the friendly is also now uncertain, with Cairo no longer feasible and both federations considering shifting the match to Morocco.
Nigeria’s build-up has been further destabilised by injuries to Ola Aina, Taiwo Awoniyi, Benjamin Fredrick and Felix Agu.
The shock retirement of captain William Troost-Ekong, winner of the 2023 AFCON Player of the Tournament award, creates an additional leadership vacuum in defence.
Chelle, who released a 55-man provisional list, must now trim his squad to 28 within a compressed window. Nigeria will compete in Group C alongside Tunisia, Uganda and Tanzania as they chase a fourth continental title.
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