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Former Gor Mahia coach Bob Oyugi analyzes Harambee Stars' back-to-back defeats to Cameroon in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers.
Former Gor Mahia coach Bob Oyugi has openly criticized Kenya national football team coach Engin Firat, attributing Harambee Stars' back-to-back defeats against Cameroon in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers to poor preparation and weak tactical planning.
Harambee Stars suffered a major setback in their quest to qualify for the 35th edition of the AFCON tournament after losing two consecutive matches to Cameroon in the space of three days.
The first loss came as a 4-1 thrashing at Japoma Stadium in Douala on October 11th, followed by a 1-0 defeat in the reverse fixture at the Stade Nelson Mandela in Kampala, Uganda, on October 14th.
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14:03 - 15.10.2024
Should Engin Firat stay or go? The bitter aftertaste of Harambee Stars double defeat to Cameroon
Firat has come under fire after back-to-back losses, leaving fans questioning his future as Harambee Stars' head coach.
Speaking after the defeats, Oyugi, who guided Gor Mahia to the Kenyan Premier League title in 1993, did not hold back in his criticism of Firat’s tactics.
“Kenyans lost both matches due to poor tactics. Cameroon applied a flexible system of a 5-3-2 formation, playing with wide wing attacks, and they took over and dominated the midfield. But for Firat, he did not have any game plan, hence Harambee Stars midfield exposing their defense, including their goalkeeper, leading to the goals the team conceded,” said Oyugi during an interview with Flashscore.
Oyugi, known for his tactical insights, explained that the difference in preparation between the two coaches was evident throughout both encounters.
He noted that Cameroon coach Marc Brys came into the matches with a clear strategy, unlike Firat, who seemed unprepared.
“Coach Marc (Brys) has a huge strategy for this tournament, and he prepared his team knowing what kind of a test he was to get from Kenya. He (Brys) has some of Cameroon’s best talents in the team, and he knows how to use them,” Oyugi pointed out.
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05:08 - 15.10.2024
Calculators out! What do Harambee Stars need to qualify for AFCON 2025?
Harambee Stars face a tough road to AFCON 2025 qualification with crucial matches ahead and tight margins.
The first leg saw Kenya concede four goals, while only managing to score one through striker Michael Olunga.
In the second leg, a lone goal from substitute Boris Enow in the 63rd minute sealed Kenya's fate. Oyugi emphasized that Firat’s failure to address the weaknesses from the first match led to the repeat defeat in Kampala.
“The moment Olunga missed that chance in the first half, it could have changed the game. That really hurt the team. However, their performance in Douala set the tone for the second match, and when they didn’t get anything in Kampala, it became clear that they had messed up their campaign,” Oyugi reflected.
Despite the setbacks, Oyugi remains hopeful that Kenya can still qualify for the AFCON tournament, but he insists that it will require more than luck.
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05:14 - 15.10.2024
Frustrated Kenyans tear into Harambee Stars after missed chances and poor finishing against Cameroon
Kenyans expressed frustration on social media following Harambee Stars' defeat to Cameroon in a crucial AFCON qualifier.
Kenya needs to secure victories in their remaining two group matches against Zimbabwe and Namibia while relying on Cameroon to beat Zimbabwe in the final group fixture.
“There is still hope to qualify. It is now mathematically in their hands. They have to beat Namibia and Zimbabwe and hope that Cameroon does them a favor by beating Zimbabwe,” said Oyugi.
“In my opinion, Zimbabwe can’t win away to Cameroon, considering that it will be the last game, and Cameroon would want to stamp their authority and finish the qualifiers in style. Let's beat both Zimbabwe and Namibia to finish with 10 points.”
Oyugi also called for a reevaluation of player selection and tactical preparation, suggesting that Firat must focus on form, talent, and hard work going forward.
“It is time to go back and restructure. The coach should pick players based on form, talent, hard work, and the correct strategy in any game.”
Kenya will next face Zimbabwe away on November 11th before concluding their Group J fixtures against Namibia on November 19th with their qualification hopes hanging by a thread.
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