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Harambee Stars face challenges in their AFCON qualification campaign with defender Geoffrey Ochieng reflecting on the team's struggles.
Harambee Stars defender Geoffrey 'Simiti' Ochieng believes Kenya's Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualification hopes would be much brighter had they not been forced to play crucial home fixtures in Uganda.
The team, currently struggling to secure a spot at the 2025 AFCON finals, has felt the impact of staging key matches away from home, according to the experienced defender.
Ochieng, nicknamed 'Simiti' due to his solid defending, expressed frustration after Kenya was held to a 0-0 draw by Zimbabwe and narrowly lost 1-0 to Cameroon in what should have been home matches in Nairobi.
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11:00 - 20.10.2024
Michael Olunga on target as Al Duhail claim crucial Qatari Stars League win
Olunga was back in the scoresheet for Al Duhail on return to club duty following Kenya's narrow 1-0 loss to Cameroon last Monday.
The two fixtures, played in Uganda due to the unavailability of the Kasarani Stadium, have left Kenya on the verge of elimination from the qualification race.
"I really wish the team would have played in an atmosphere like the one we encountered in Yaounde. The connection between the Cameroonian players and fans was there for all to see," Ochieng said as per SportBoom.
The defender lamented the absence of local fan support in those critical encounters, emphasizing how a vibrant home crowd could have made all the difference.
"They pushed the team throughout, and in the end, they won the match convincingly. Fan support is always crucial, and the lack of it in the two matches played has been felt," he added.
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15:14 - 16.10.2024
AFCON 2025 qualifiers: Teams that have qualified for the Morocco tournament so far
Egypt and Morocco among huge footballing nations to have already for next year's continental showpiece.
Harambee Stars' chances of reaching the 2025 finals in Morocco now hang by a thread.
Zimbabwe, who are currently ahead in the Group J standings, are closer to securing the final ticket to the prestigious tournament.
If Zimbabwe manages to hold Kenya to a draw in their next match the Warriors will qualify for AFCON at the expense of the Stars with a game to spare.
Ochieng, however, remains optimistic despite the setbacks as he believes the team can still turn things around and secure their place in Morocco if they win their remaining matches against Zimbabwe and Namibia next month.
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14:03 - 15.10.2024
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Firat has come under fire after back-to-back losses, leaving fans questioning his future as Harambee Stars' head coach.
The two games will also be played on neutral grounds, as the Kasarani Stadium is yet to be cleared for hosting international fixtures.
"We're not out of the race yet," Ochieng insisted.
"We’ve had some unfortunate results, but if we beat Zimbabwe and Namibia, we can still qualify. It’s not going to be easy, but we believe in our ability as a team. We know what’s at stake, and we’re ready to fight for it."
Kenya’s campaign has been an uphill battle from the start, especially with the disruption of home advantage.
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05:23 - 17.10.2024
Engin Firat believes in miracles as Harambee Stars turn to the heavens for AFCON 2025 hope
Engin Firat has called on fans to pray as Kenya fights for AFCON qualification after setbacks.
Harambee Stars' last appearance at the tournament was in 2019, and Ochieng is determined to help the team avoid the disappointment of being spectators when the competition kicks off in Morocco.
"We owe it to our fans and to ourselves to finish strong," he said.
"We might not have the home crowd behind us in these next matches, but we’ll still give it our all. If we can play with the same passion and intensity we saw from the Cameroonian side in Yaounde, I have no doubt we can still qualify."
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