Kenya’s Harambee Stars concluded their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign with a frustrating 0-0 draw against Namibia’s Brave Warriors at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, South Africa. The match, played on a sweltering Tuesday afternoon, epitomized the struggles of both teams in a qualification campaign neither will look back on fondly.
Both sides had already been eliminated from contention for next year’s tournament in Morocco, and the encounter bore the marks of a contest devoid of stakes, creativity, and quality. The result extended Kenya’s winless streak to six games and ensured Namibia finished bottom of Group J without a single victory.
A Match Bereft of Spark
The Harambee Stars started the game with an apparent intent to dominate possession, focusing on building play through the flanks. Erick Ouma, also known as “Marcelo,” was Kenya’s brightest spark on the left, delivering dangerous crosses into the box. However, the forwards failed to capitalize, with Johnstone Omurwa and Alfred Scriven struggling to convert the opportunities into meaningful chances.
The first real opportunity came in the 8th minute when Scriven’s header was acrobatically saved by Namibia goalkeeper Edward Maova. Despite enjoying the lion’s share of possession, Kenya lacked the cutting edge to unlock Namibia’s resolute defense.
Namibia, on the other hand, looked content to sit back and counter. Their best moment of the first half came through a speculative effort that was easily dealt with by Kenya goalkeeper Bryne Odhiambo.
More of the Same in the Second Half
The second half saw more uninspired play from both sides. Kenya struggled to break Namibia’s defensive lines, while the Brave Warriors showed little urgency to push forward. Kenya’s Odhiambo produced a crucial save in the 56th minute to deny Vitapi Ngaruka’s long-range effort, keeping the score level.
Coach Engin Firat attempted to shake things up with substitutions, bringing on Jonah Ayunga, Daniel Sakari, and Marvin Nabwire. Ayunga replaced Scriven as the target man, but the changes failed to inject the needed dynamism. Namibia almost snatched a late goal when Elmo Ukondja miscontrolled a header in Kenya’s box, allowing the defense to clear the danger.
Player Ratings
Here’s a breakdown of how Kenya’s players fared in the match:
– GK: Bryne Odhiambo – 7
Arguably Kenya’s standout performer. Although Namibia rarely tested him, Odhiambo produced a fine save to deny Ngaruka’s effort in the second half. His distribution was calm and precise, a bright spot in an otherwise uninspiring team performance.
– CB: Johnstone Omurwa – 7
A solid performance from the central defender. Omurwa was a threat from set-pieces and remained composed at the back, helping to maintain Kenya’s clean sheet.
– CB: Daniel Anyembe – 6
Stepping in for Joseph Okumu, Anyembe delivered a steady, if unspectacular, performance. He rarely ventured out of position but lacked the dynamism to drive the team forward.
– RB: Ronney Onyango – 6
Onyango provided width on the right flank, overlapping effectively with Duke Abuya at times. However, his final delivery left much to be desired.
– LB: Erick Ouma – 6
A tireless display from the Poland-based wing-back, who frequently ventured forward to support attacks. His crosses were among Kenya’s few creative outlets, but the forwards failed to capitalize.
– CM: Anthony Akumu – 6
The captain for the day, Akumu kept things ticking in midfield but lacked the incisiveness to break Namibia’s lines.
– CM: Richard Odada – 6
A workhorse in midfield, Odada covered plenty of ground but was let down by poor decision-making in the final third.
– RM: Duke Abuya – 4
One of Kenya’s poorest performers. Abuya was careless in possession and struggled to impact the game from his unfamiliar right-wing position.
– AM: Austin Odhiambo – 5
The Gor Mahia playmaker tried to make himself available for passes but was largely ineffective against Namibia’s compact defensive structure.
– LM: John Avire – 5
Avire showed plenty of grit and determination but failed to beat his marker consistently. He was substituted for Sakari in the second half.
– CF: Alfred Scriven – 3
A game to forget for Scriven. The center forward struggled to get involved and was starved of service before being replaced by Ayunga.
Substitutes:
– Daniel Sakari – 6
Sakari came on as a right winger, an unorthodox position for him. While he injected some urgency, his contributions were not enough to turn the tide.
– Jonah Ayunga – N/A
Ayunga replaced Scriven late in the game but had little time to make an impact.
– Marvin Nabwire – N/A
The debutant had only a few minutes on the pitch and barely influenced proceedings.
– Aboud Omar – N/A
A late substitute, Omar did not have enough time to make an impression.
A Disappointing Campaign, Kenya’s Results in the qualifiers
Kenya’s AFCON 2025 qualification campaign ends with six points from six matches, a third-place finish in Group J behind Cameroon and Zimbabwe. Namibia, who collected just two points, finished bottom. The Harambee Stars failed to record a win in their final two matches, compounding a year of mediocrity under coach Engin Firat.
Firat, who has been under scrutiny for his tactics and team selections, faces growing calls for his dismissal. Former Kenya coach Jacob “Ghost” Mulee is among those advocating for a fresh approach to the national team setup.
What Next For Kenya
With the AFCON dream over, Kenya must now shift focus to rebuilding for future competitions. The failure to qualify for Morocco highlights the urgent need for structural reforms, investment in youth development, and a clear tactical identity.Kenya’s next shot at Afcon will be in 2027 a co-hosts.
The players, fans, and officials must come together to ensure the Harambee Stars return to the continental stage stronger and more competitive. For now, however, the disappointment of Polokwane will linger as a reminder of what needs to change.