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Harambee Stars captain Michael Olunga has received praise from Zimbabwe coach Michael Nees who credits his team’s ability to keep him quiet for their draw against Kenya on Friday.
Zimbabwe coach Michael Nees has admitted his team got the result they needed against Kenya because they nullified the threat of Harambee Stars captain Michael Olunga.
Zimbabwe secured a 1-1 draw against Engin Firat’s men to seal their place at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after Jonah Ayunga’s second half goal cancelled out Tawanda Maswanhise’s 32nd minute strike.
Kenya had started the game well before Zimbabwe took advantage of their lapse in defence to punish them but Nees says his team worked out a formula to keep talisman Olunga quiet since he is a player he rates highly.
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07:00 - 16.11.2024
Five things learnt from Harambee Stars' frustrating draw with Zimbabwe as Kenya are bundled out of 2025 AFCON qualification
Kenya drew 1-1 with Zimbabwe on Friday night, which locked them out from qualifying for the 2025 continental showpiece
The German coach explained how he had to leave right-back Godknows Murwira on the bench in favour of Munashe Garananga, who is blessed with height and pace, that would ensure Olunga does not cause them problems.
“I didn’t put Godknows Murwira on the bench because I didn’t like him but we know that their no.9 [Olunga] is maybe the best No.9 in Southern and East Africa,” said Nees.
“He is an absolute top-class player and we needed someone who can mark him in set pieces and Godknows, he is not shoulders over [Olunga] so, Munashe [Garananga] I had to put him in.
“He [Olunga] is also quite fast, even though he is tall, and so I said we need more speed and height in the set pieces and that is why he [Munashe] was selected.”
Indeed, Olunga, who played up front with Ayunga, did not have an easy time with the Zimbabwe backline keeping a keen eye on him while on set pieces, one of his main strengths, Kenya either got their deliveries wrong or Zimbabwe were first to meet them.
Nees believes that also helped them when Kenya started getting more direct in their approach as the game wore on.
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07:54 - 16.11.2024
'Stop dreaming' - Harambee Stars coach Engin Firat hits back after failing to deliver AFCON 2025 promise
Engin Firat has urged frustrated critics to 'stop dreaming' after Harambee Stars were bundled out of the 2025 AFCON qualifiers following a 1-1 draw with Zimbabwe in Polokwane.
“They tried to punch all their tall players with long balls upfront. We had a lot of chances where we should have finished the game to calm our nerves and in the end, we deserved a point which we wanted and we are qualified,” he added.
“The Kenyan team is fast, physically very strong. They can also play football and it was a little bit of a drama at the end.”
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![South Africans slam Zimbabwe fans over disrespectful behaviour in Polokwane after draw against Harambee Stars [VIDEO]](https://sportal365images.com/process/smp-images-production/ringier.africa/16112024/b12cbb67-0d06-43b4-87e1-70b833b36f84.jpg?operations=fit(600:))
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