Harambee Stars were torn apart by a star-studded Cameroon on Friday evening, but how did the players fare?
The Kenya National Football Team Harambee Stars were torn apart by Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions 4-1 in Yaounde on Friday night, denting their hopes of sealing qualification to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON)
They created numerous scoring opportunities, but were wasteful in front of goal against a side who were out to claim victory from the very first minute.
Pulse Sports rates the performance of the Harambee Stars players.
Patrick Matasi -1
It is a match Patrick Matasi will want to forget quickly. Nothing seemed to be working for him on the night. Back in the starting line up after being benched against Zimbabwe and Namibia, he will surely have wished he had remained on the bench after all.
After being sent the wrong way for Vincent Aboubakar’s penalty, he received a whacking to the face from a powerful Christian Bassogog shot which left him in sixes and sevens, and from then on, nothing seemed to click for him.
His handling for the second goal was comical, and the fourth goal he conceded was even more laughable. A generally shaky display.
Amos Nondi -1
Amos Nondi was absolutely destroyed by Christian Basogog, who had a field day on that left flank. He earned a booking for a clumsy challenge on the forward, and his his lack of positional awareness for the position, given he is more of a midfielder, was exposed.
Was rightly hooked off at the break.
Daniel Anyembe-3
Daniel Anyembe had possibly his worst performance in a Kenyan shirt to date Looked out of sorts at center back, and although he looked better at right back in the second half, took nothing home to write about.
Sylvester Owino -4
Possibly the best Kenyan center back on the night. Never looked out of place, but being part of a team that shipped four goals, could only go away with a five.
Eric Marcelo Ouma -5
A generally solid performance. Gave the assist for Michael Olunga’s goal from the freekick.
Teddy Akumu -1
A disastrous performance. It was his dilly-dallying on the ball that led directly to the fourth goal.
Richard Odada-2
The better of the two midfielders, he had an okay-ish performance but Engin Firat will be worried he had to be stretched off the field.
Ronney Onyango -3
Rooney Onyango was forced to do more defensive work in the afternoon and was prevented from being adventurous. A forgettable display.
Duke Abuya -2
Duke Abuya struggled to influence the game in attack. Playing on the left flank, he had a quiet display before being subbed off afterwards.
Timothy Ouma - 2
Back in the starting line up, Ouma had a quiet display. Looked like a rabbit in the headlights. Did not enjoy much of the possession before being subbed off.
Michael Olunga -5
Scored Kenya’s only goal of the evening but was otherwise ineffective, being forced to do more defensive work.
Joseph Okumu -3
On as a substitute, he could have done better in the build up to that fourth goal, and he was clearly protecting himself from potentially aggravating his injury.
John Avire -4
Did not have much to do with the 20 minutes he was given on the pitch, apart from a few touches of the ball.
Alfred Scriven- N/A
Came on but barely did anything to warrant a rating.
Chris Erambo N/A
Came on as a substitute for the injured Odada but did not really have enough time to influence the outcome of the match.
Engin Firat - 1
His starting line up was confusing for a start. It was an odd decision to start Patrick Matasi after Byrne Omondi had two solid games last time out.
The decision not to start Daniel Anyembe at right back especially considering the fact that the speedy Christian Basogog had a field day down that flank in the first half was confusing, although things calmed down when he got taken to that flank.
There was a general lack of co-ordination both on and off the ball, with several large spaces in midfield being created.
Firat will be hoping he can solve the problem quickly if they are to turn around their fortunes in the second leg which will take place on Monday in Kampala.
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