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Firat has come under fire after back-to-back losses, leaving fans questioning his future as Harambee Stars' head coach.
If Harambee Stars head coach Engin Firat were to stand in a popularity contest he would likely finish last—even if he were the only contestant.
After the back-to-back AFCON qualifying losses to Cameroon, the Turk is feeling the full wrath of Kenyan football fans, who are demanding answers, if not his resignation.
The 4-1 humiliation in Yaoundé and the 1-0 defeat in Uganda have left a bitter taste that no amount of nyama choma could wash down.
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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.
Kenya's dreams of making it to the 2025 AFCON now hang by a thread, with Zimbabwe riding high after two wins over Namibia.
Firat’s tactical decisions have been thrown into question, his substitutions scrutinized, and his fashion choices during matchdays debated with equal intensity.
Fans are impatient, and time for Firat to prove his worth is running out.
"For our final two matches, we have to go out and win. We have no other option. We cannot take things for granted because this group is tough," Firat said after Monday’s defeat.
His words rang hollow for many fans who feel the coach is already in over his head.
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10:39 - 15.10.2024
5 key takeaways from Harambee Stars' unlucky loss to Cameroon in 2025 AFCON qualifiers
Five things we learnt from Kenya's narrow 1-0 loss to Cameroon in Uganda on Monday afternoon.
The frustrations are not entirely misplaced as Kenya has only been to two AFCON tournaments in the last 30 years, and for the long-suffering Harambee Stars supporters, patience is thinner than Firat’s chances of surviving a fan vote right now. But should he really be shown the door?
Let us not forget that Firat inherited a team in transition. Promising young talents like Timothy Ouma, Stanley Wilson, and Ronney Onyango are starting to break through, while the likes of Bryne Odhiambo and Sylvester Owino have impressed in the backline.
These players, though raw, have handled the pressure better than many seasoned pros might have, and that’s not by accident.
Firat’s influence on the squad's mental fortitude is clear, as shown in Kenya’s more organized defensive displays—far from the heart attack-inducing errors fans have come to expect.
Looking at the numbers, Kenya’s record under Firat is not as bad as it feels after the Cameroon double blow.
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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.
In his 12 competitive matches in charge, the Stars have three wins, four draws, and five losses. They have scored 14 goals and conceded 15, with star striker Michael Olunga netting five of them. That is hardly a disastrous return, and there have been signs of improvement, especially in the way Kenya defended against African giants like Côte d’Ivoire, holding them to a 0-0 draw.
But for every glimmer of hope, there has been a moment that leaves fans pulling their hair out. Firat’s tactical rigidity has been a double-edged sword. When it works, as it did in the 1-0 win over Namibia, Kenya looks solid.
But when it backfires, as it did against Mali and Gabon, the team collapses like a house of cards. In the Gabon match, Kenya took an early lead away from home, only for Firat’s side to push too hard for a second goal and lose the game in the process. Such tactical naivety has been a sore point for many, and the bitterness lingers.
One of the main issues Firat faces is his rocky relationship with the fans. He has repeatedly asked them to lower their expectations, which, while reasonable from a tactical standpoint, rubs Kenyan supporters the wrong way.
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18:46 - 14.10.2024
Harambee Stars player ratings : How they performed in relatively unlucky defeat to Cameroon in Kampala
Harambee Stars put in a spirited fight but could not make their chances pay as Borris Enow's freekick in the 60th minute dented their hopes of sealing AFCON 2025 qualification.
Football fans are dreamers. They want to believe that on any given day, their team can take on the world—even if that world happens to include juggernauts like Cameroon. Firat needs to embrace this fanaticism rather than brush it aside, or he risks alienating the very people whose support he needs most.
Yet, there are reasons to believe he might still be the man for the job. The players are responding well to him, and the team’s defensive frailties are slowly being ironed out.
Sylvester Owino, in only his second appearance for the Stars, looked composed and assured, offering hope that Kenya’s days of defensive blunders might finally be behind them. There’s progress, albeit slow and painful, but it is there.
However, this AFCON campaign might be Firat’s last chance. Kenya's next two matches are must-wins. The odds are long, and the margin for error is razor-thin.
If Firat pulls off a miracle and gets Kenya to Morocco in 2025, there’s no question he should stay. But if he fails, it is hard to see how he can survive the wrath of a football-loving nation that’s been starved of success for too long.
In the end, Firat’s fate is likely to come down to results. Should Kenya miss out on AFCON yet again, the calls for his head will be deafening.
If he somehow steers the ship back on course, however, Firat might just win the popularity contest he is currently losing so badly. After all, in football, nothing silences critics like a winning scoreline.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Pulse Sports Kenya.
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