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.
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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.”

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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.

Big names from Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham are among some surprise packages when it comes to the Premier League’s top 10 chance creators so far in 2024-25.

The numbers don’t lie. Some of the top players in the English top flight are proving true to their reputations by consistently creating goalscoring opportunities. But there are also some less heralded players you might not expect to see.

Here are the 10 players who have registered the most ‘key passes’ (the final pass before a team-mate shoots at goal) in the Premier League so far this season. Where two players are tied, we’ve put them in order of the superior per-minute ratio.

10. Kevin De Bruyne – 16

It’s no surprise to see De Bruyne feature here, giving that Thomas Muller and Lionel Messi arethe only currently active players to have notched more career assists than Manchester City’s brilliant Belgian.

De Bruyne has created as many chances as Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold so far this season but sneaks into our top 10 by virtue of considerably fewer minutes played.

He’s only featured in four of City’s seven league matches so far this season and averages a key pass every 22 minutes, a rate of return that’s only marginally worse than the man who tops this list.

9. Leif Davis – 17

If you don’t follow the Football League, chances are you won’t have seen but will have heard about the Ipswich Town left-back, who topped League One and the Championship in the assists charts in their back-to-back promotions.

The Tractor Boys have endured a tough start to life in the big league, winless in seven matches, but Davis is living up to the hype going forward. He’s only notched one assist but has registered a further 16 chances created for his team-mates.

8. Marcus Tavernier – 18

The midfielder has quietly gone under the radar for Bournemouth as they’ve established themselves as a comfortably midtable club over the past couple of seasons, and he appears to be going from strength to strength under Andoni Iraola.

He’s deservedly among the first names on their teamsheet and continually delivers in the final third.

7. Jarrod Bowen – 19

West Ham appear to have been going through teething problems as they adapt to life under new manager Julen Lopetegui, but while results have been iffy some things never change.

Mohammed Kudus’ dribbling output is still off the charts and Bowen is still integral to everything they’re doing going forward.

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TRY A QUIZ: Can you name the 36 players with 50+ Premier League goals and assists?

6. Bernardo Silva – 19

Pep Guardiola is blessed with a number of exceptionally talented playmakers at Manchester City, and there’s a reason Erling Haaland is comfortably top of the scoring charts given his supply.

Silva is just ahead of De Bruyne in the key passes stakes, but he’s been more of a regular for the reigning champions so far this season.

5. Dejan Kulusevski – 21

No fewer than eight of these 21 chances created were in Tottenham’s big 3-0 victory over Manchester United last month.

Christian Eriksen is the only player to have ever created more for Spurs in a single league match on record.

4. Dwight McNeil – 23

It would be understating it to say that Everton might have kicked off the 2024-25 campaign better, but after some disastrous dropped points in the early weeks they appear to be on the right path once again.

And their outstanding individual, particularly going forward, is undoubtedly McNeil. He’s notched three goals and two assists in his last five appearances and has created plenty more chances for his team-mates.

3. Cole Palmer – 23

“I know he is a legend in the Premier League, but I didn’t really watch him,” Chelsea’s talisman responded when he was compared to the legendary Dennis Bergkamp.

“I was too young. I have seen clips, he was a top player so thank you, Theo Walcott!”

We respect the honesty. Palmer was three years old when the Dutchman retired, so why should he have watched him? Either way; Palmer’s mixture of technical finesse, nonchalance and ability to selflessly create for those around him mean those comparisons aren’t too wide of the mark. Highest of praise.

QUIZ: Can you name the 30 players with the most assists in Premier League history?

2. Andreas Pereira – 23

Many predicted that Fulham would struggle without their influential, tough-tackling midfield enforcer Joao Palhinha – who departed for Bayern Munich in the summer – but they appear to have underestimated the quality elsewhere in Marco Silva’s squad.

The Cottagers are flying high in the top half of the table, and have somewhat underrated players like Pereira to thank for their fine form. The Brazilian never quite made it at Old Trafford but he’s since proven himself a more than adept Premier League playmaker. His numbers speak for themself.

1. Bukayo Saka – 27

Hale End’s finest has arguably taken his game up a level so far this season. Not only have his deliveries from dead-ball situations been absolutely wicked but he’s consistently a menace in open play too.

No player has more assists and only Barcelona’s Raphinha has created more chances across all of Europe’s five major leagues.

Tottenham made further moves in the transfer market over the summer, signing the likes of Dominic Solanke, Archie Gray and Wilson Odobert as they looked to further shape the squad in Ange Postecoglou’s image.

While there have been a number of fresh faces through the door, a number – ranging from senior players to younger academy graduates on the fridges – have been shipped out on loan, with no role to play in Postecoglou’s immediate plans for the 2024-25 campaign.

We figured this would be a good opportunity to check in on how the 11 players that Spurs have sent out on loan are faring elsewhere so far this season.

Matthew Craig

Having made 18 appearances in League Two for Doncaster Rovers in the latter half of last season, it was always unlikely that Scotland Under-21 defensive midfielder Craig would make the giant leap to feature for his parent club this season.

But he’s continuing his development, once again in South Yorkshire, at a higher level – this time at League One Barnsley. He’s been a near ever-present at the base of midfield for the Tykes so far this season, having started nine of their 10 matches in the third tier.

Barnsley currently sit underwhelmingly bang in midtable, with a mixed record of four wins, three draws and three defeats, but this ought to prove a useful learning curve for the youngster.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg

A pragmatist might have suggested that Hojbjerg’s experience might have been useful in stodging things up in Spurs’ recent 3-2 defeat to Brighton, but for better or worse the club appear intent on going Full Angeball – and last season the Dane never looked the most natural fit for that full-blooded, front-footed style.

You might say the say the same about Roberto De Zerbi’s football, but here we are. Hojbjerg has played almost every minute in Ligue 1 for Marseille, who started the season like a house on fire but have since suffered a blip with dropped points against Strasbourg and Angers.

Title talk was probably a bit premature, but Hojbjerg looks at home for a side that ought to have realistic ambitions of Champions League qualification.

Bryan Gil

It’s never quite happened for the Beatle-looking Spaniard at Tottenham, has it?

It’s increasingly looking as though Gil is more suited to one environment than another – a bit like Giovani Lo Celso, currently thriving at Real Betis – and is now onto his third loan back to his home country in as many years.

Following his stints at Valencia and Sevilla, the winger is now turning out for Girona. He notched in a 4-0 mauling of Osasuna back in August but has failed to score or assist in eight appearances since then, finding himself in and out of their starting XI.

Girona massively punched above their weight to finish in the top four last season, but a repeat looks altogether less likely after a summer exodus. The early indications are that replacements such as Gil aren’t quite at the level required to maintain that stupendous form.

Alejo Veliz

A £13million signing from Rosario Central last summer, Argentina youth international Veliz is still finding his feet in European football.

He never made it beyond the periphery of Postecoglou’s first-team squad and spent the latter half of last season struggling for opportunities at Sevilla.

But newly-promoted Espanyol appear more keen to give him a chance; he’s already notched over 500 more minutes so far this season than he mustered in his last loan.

It hasn’t been especially easy for the striker at a side that are battling in the lower reaches of the La Liga table, but he does at least boast a 96th-minute match-winner in a vital 2-1 victory over Rayo Vallecano.

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TRY A QUIZ: Can you name every manager to take charge of Tottenham in the Premier League?

Dane Scarlett

Talked up as one to watch for a few years now, Scarlett’s still never made it beyond making the odd cameo for his boyhood club. He’s now onto his third loan in the Football League, now at Oxford United after the fringe role he played in Ipswich Town’s promotion last term (recalled in December due to a lack of playing time).

The 20-year-old forward may have similar frustrations this time around, with all five of his appearances in the Championship so far off the bench, and late on at that. He’s played just 57 minutes of football in the second tier at the time of writing.

Jamie Donley

A homegrown forward who made his debut in the madcap 3-3 draw with Manchester City last season, 19-year-old Donley – who has represented both Northern Ireland and England at Under-19 level – is now getting his first taste of regular(ish) senior football at League One side Leyton Orient.

He’s featured fairly prominently so far for Orient, with seven appearances (five starts) in the third tier. He’s yet to score or assist but has impressed manager Richie Wellens, albeit with some constructive criticism thrown in.

“On the ball, he has the world at his feet,” Wellens told The Athletic. “He can play at the top level if he wants to.

“But you look at the top teams now, as soon as they lose that ball, they sprint back. That is something Jamie needs in his game — the reaction as soon as the ball turns over, whether it is to go and press or slide back into shape. It is something over the next six to eight months, while he is with us, we will try to develop. If he gets that, he will be a real top player.”

Ashley Phillips

Another signing from last summer that was made with one eye on the future, Phillips joined shortly after his 18th birthday after catching the eye for Blackburn Rovers.

The England Under-20 centre-back spent his first six months developing his skills in Spurs’ youth ranks before going on to get more experience in the Championship for relegation-battling Plymouth Argyle. After helping the Pilgrims stay up in the end, he’s since joined Stoke City on a season-long loan.

Phillips, 19, has found game time harder to come by at the Bet365 Stadium. Two of his three appearances to date have been in the League Cup. Concussion protocol kept him sidelined for a short while but he’s yet to feature under the Potters’ new boss Narcis Pelach.

Manor Solomon

We’re sure Tottenham fans will be shocked to hear that Solomon has spent time on the treatment table since moving to Leeds United in the final days of the transfer window.

The Israeli winger has bolstered Daniel Farke’s promotion-chasing squad following the departures of key attackers Crysensio Summerville and Georginio Rutter.

His first two appearances for Leeds were something of a mixed bag. He did well to assist the opener in a 2-0 victory over Hull City on his debut but suffered a misfortune slip against Burnley, the mistake proving costly for the only goal in a 1-0 defeat at home to Burnley.

He’s remained sidelined over the recent international break but is expected back soon.

QUIZ: Can you name Tottenham’s top 30 goalscorers in the Premier League?

George Abbott

Islington-born right-back Abbott made his debut for his boyhood club in the last game before the Postecoglou era, the 4-1 victory away at Leeds that sent them down.

A second appearance was not forthcoming under Postecoglou last season but he continued his development by captaining Spurs’ Under-21s to the Premier League 2 title last term.

Now the 19-year-old is getting his first taste of regular men’s football in League Two with Notts County. He’s impressed so far, often featuring in midfield, and registered his first assist of the campaign in their recent 2-2 draw with Chesterfield.

Josh Keeley

Last season, the Republic of Ireland youth international featured regularly for Barnet in the second half of the campaign.

He’s now made the step up to League One, sharing a dressing room with his fellow Spurs youth prospect Donley at Leyton Orient. But the 21-year-old is currently a back-up and has thus far only featured in their 3-1 League Cup defeat at Brentford.

Alfie Devine

Like Scarlett, Devine is one of those names we’ve been aware of for a few years now. But so far he’s only played a couple of cup games for Spurs, prior to more experience in loans at Port Vale and Plymouth Argyle last season.

Now the attacking midfielder has made the slightly leftfield, eyebrow-raising move to Belgian outfit Westerlo. So far he’s featured in four of their 10 league matches as they sit respectably in sixth place in the Jupiler Pro League.