Harambee Stars captain Michael Olunga lays bare injury struggles ahead of pivotal double header against Cameroon

Harambee Stars captain Michael Olunga has shared his thoughts ahead of Kenya's crucial AFCON qualifiers against Cameroon next month

Harambee Stars captain Michael Olunga has expressed his desire to return to full fitness ahead of Kenya's decisive Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Cameroon next month.

The towering striker missed Kenya’s first two games of the 2025 AFCON qualifiers due to injury, a setback he admits was hard to endure from the sidelines.

Kenya, however, navigated the tough opening fixtures, picking up four points against Zimbabwe and Namibia, which leaves them at the top of their qualifying group.

Olunga, a key player in the Kenyan national setup, was sorely missed, but the team’s solid performances without him have set the stage for what is expected to be a tense doubleheader against Cameroon.

"It was definitely tough for me watching from the sidelines because I always want to help my team as much as I can,” Olunga admitted, revealing the frustration of missing out on national duty as quoted by Telecom AsiaSport.

“We had worked so hard with the medical team to try and see if I could make it even for one game, but it was impossible. However, I am glad we had some good results which put us at a good place heading to next month."

Olunga’s absence was a blow especially given his importance to the team over recent years.

The 29-year-old forward has been Kenya’s main attacking outlet scoring crucial goals and providing leadership on and off the pitch.

The Al-Duhail striker is optimistic about his recovery having recently returned to action for his Qatari club.

After missing the national team's games, Olunga found the back of the net for his team in his second match following his return from injury.

“I feel better and relieved to have returned. Now it is just a matter of trying to build the fitness and ensuring that I am physically ready," Olunga said.

His return to club football comes at an important time, not just for his personal ambitions but also for his team’s AFCON hopes.

Kenya has not qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations since 2019 and with Olunga in their ranks the team hopes to break the streak of bad luck and secure a spot in next year’s tournament.

Despite missing the first qualifiers, Olunga remains focused on the upcoming fixtures, emphasizing the importance of the October clashes with Cameroon.

The doubleheader will test Kenya’s resilience, and Olunga believes the team is in the right frame of mind to rise to the occasion.

"It’s going to be a big challenge, but I think we are capable of achieving something special. I’ve seen the work that the boys put in during the first two games, and we are in a strong position. With the right mentality, we can fight for positive results," he added.

In addition to his national duties, Olunga remains a critical player for Al-Duhail.

Since joining the Qatari top-flight side in 2021, Olunga has consistently been among the league’s top scorers, winning the golden boot for two consecutive seasons in 2021-22 and 2022-23.