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Harambee Stars were held to a 1-1 draw by Zimbabwe on Friday, which knocked them out of the 2025 AFCON qualifiers.
Harambee Stars captain Michael Olunga has expressed his disappointment following Kenya’s failure to secure a spot in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Stars were eliminated after finishing third in their group, with their campaign ending in a 1-1 draw against Zimbabwe at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane City.
In an interview, Olunga admitted that the team is struggling to come to terms with the outcome. “It is a difficult moment for all of us to process at this time. We are all disappointed that we could not finish on a high despite trying our best,” he said.
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13:25 - 17.11.2024
Harambee Stars legend blasts FKF for sticking with Engin Firat despite failures
After a disappointing AFCON qualification campaign, a Harambee Stars legend criticized coach Engin Firat’s tactics calling for structural reforms and grassroots investment in Kenyan football.
The forward emphasized the need for reflection rather than blame, pointing to a collective responsibility across the players, management, and technical bench.
“This is not the time to apportion blame but to reflect and identify where we went wrong to ensure future assignments don’t end in disappointment like this,” Olunga remarked.
Olunga pinpointed the team’s back-to-back losses to Cameroon as the decisive moment in their qualifying journey.
“If you look at our group, we only lost two matches back-to-back, and that was against Cameroon. Though Cameroon were the clear favorites, had we picked one point against them, we would have had a realistic chance of qualifying,” he explained.
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10:30 - 17.11.2024
Expert on why Harambee Stars wonderkid linked to Manchester United, Tottenham & Brentford may not yet be ready for England move
Ouma has risen to prominence at the heart of IF Elfsborg's midfield this season in the UEFA Europa League, but a scout has revealed why a move to England at this stage of his career may come too soon for the Harambee Stars man.
The Harambee Stars skipper also highlighted the importance of playing home matches in Kenya, lamenting the prolonged absence of suitable stadiums. The Stars have not played at home in three years, relying on foreign venues to host their games.
“Playing at home is obviously a big motivation factor,” Olunga said. “While we don’t want to use this as an excuse, it makes a difference. We should all work towards ensuring that we have stadiums ready.”
Olunga called on the government and the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) to prioritize infrastructure development to boost the team’s morale and performance in future competitions.
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17:09 - 16.11.2024
‘Best No.9 in Southern & East Africa’ - Michael Olunga earns high praise from Zimbabwe coach
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.
Despite the heartbreak, Olunga remains optimistic about the future of Kenyan football. He urged all stakeholders to come together, learn from the challenges faced, and take actionable steps to improve the team’s prospects.
“We need to address the gaps we’ve identified in this campaign. This will be crucial for the growth of the team and for us to achieve better results in upcoming assignments,” Olunga concluded.
As the dust settles on this AFCON campaign, Olunga’s message is clear: reflection, unity, and investment in infrastructure are key to turning the tide for Harambee Stars.
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