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Harambee Stars will face Namibia in their final AFCON 2025 qualifier aiming to end a challenging campaign on a high note and break a five-match winless streak.
Kenya and Namibia will battle for pride when they meet in a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Tuesday night.
Both teams find themselves languishing in third and fourth places in Group J, rendering this fixture a formality.
However, with Harambee Stars enduring a five-game winless streak and Namibia eager to avoid a defeat, there is plenty of motivation to secure a morale-boosting result.
Kenya, who began their qualification campaign brightly with four points from their first two games, have since faltered.
Heavy defeats to Cameroon in October derailed their campaign, leaving them needing a miraculous turnaround that never materialized.
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11:30 - 18.11.2024
Jacob 'Ghost' Mulee after Harambee Stars' 2025 AFCON qualification woes -Time for complete overhaul
Jacob 'Ghost' Mulee reveals two problems he saw during Harambee Stars' 1-1 draw with Zimbabwe last Friday that need immediate fixing if Kenya is to become an AFCON mainstay.
A 1-1 draw against Zimbabwe in their penultimate match sealed their fate, ensuring they miss AFCON for the third straight edition.
Nonetheless, coach Engin Firat is adamant his team has unfinished business.
"It’s clear we have a goal-scoring problem that needs a solution. I wish we could have addressed this earlier, but we couldn’t change it,” said Firat in a recent interview.
The Turkish gaffer will likely use this match as an opportunity to test combinations and restore confidence ahead of Kenya's hosting duties in the 2027 tournament.
Michael Olunga, Kenya’s all-time leading scorer, will be key to breaking the team's offensive slump although his availability is in doubt due to injury fears.
The striker, who was frustrated against Zimbabwe, will look to recapture his scoring form and inspire the Harambee Stars to victory.
On the other side, Namibia's Warriors, led by coach Collin Benjamin, have also endured a forgettable qualification run.
After starting with a narrow 1-0 loss to Cameroon, Namibia suffered three consecutive defeats before earning a goalless draw against the Indomitable Lions in their last match.
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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.
While their campaign has been disappointing, the Warriors will take heart from their spirited display against Cameroon, where they created enough chances to snatch a victory despite having only 36% possession.
For Namibia, Tuesday's clash represents a chance to build momentum ahead of their World Cup qualifying fixtures in March.
Peter Shalulile, the nation’s all-time leading scorer, will have additional motivation as he aims to earn his 60th cap, becoming only the 11th Namibian player to achieve that milestone.
Kenya will be buoyed by the performance of Jonah Ayunga, who scored his first goal for the national team against Zimbabwe.
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20:00 - 18.11.2024
Zimbabwe coach Michael Nees explains the ‘missing ingredient’ that won over Khama Billiat
Zimbabwe qualified for the 2025 AFCON with a game to spare, with the effervescent Khama Billiat playing an integral role on return to the national set up.
His physicality and presence in the box complement Olunga, giving Firat a potent pairing to test Namibia’s defensive resolve.
On the defensive front, Kenya must tighten up after conceding 10 goals in their last six outings, a vulnerability Namibia will aim to exploit.
Namibia, meanwhile, are likely to field the same backline that kept Cameroon at bay, with Collin Benjamin emphasizing stability.
However, the Warriors' attack, led by Shalulile, has struggled to find consistency, and they will need to be clinical to exploit Kenya's defensive lapses.
The match’s dynamics could hinge on midfield control as Kenya's creative players like Richard Odada will need to step up and link effectively with the forwards while Namibia will look to their experienced campaigners to dictate the tempo.
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12:00 - 18.11.2024
Michael Olunga overshadowed as Serhou Guirassy & Sadio Mane dominate 2025 AFCON qualifiers scoring charts
Al Duhail and Harambee Stars striker has struggled to find his scoring form in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, overshadowed by standout performances from the competition's top scorers.
Beyond tactics and individual brilliance, pride will be the defining element of this encounter.
Both nations know the significance of ending their campaigns on a positive note, not only for their FIFA rankings but also for the morale of their squads heading into future competitions.
Kenya's advantage may lie in their desperation to end their drought while Namibia's confidence from their defensive resurgence could make this an even contest.
The game promises to be a hard-fought battle where both teams will leave everything on the field in search of redemption.
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