Spirits of redemption or regret? Can Harambee Stars finish Zimbabwe’s dream run?

Harambee Stars’ dream of qualifying for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations hangs in the balance. Can they defeat Zimbabwe tonight and edge closer to breaking their footballing drought?

Chronometer inside the Outside Broadcasting Van at Peter Mokaba Stadium ticks loudly as if it is in on the tension of the moment—each second dragging closer to the Harambee Stars' do-or-die clash with Zimbabwe.

If time had a personality, it would probably be dressed in Harambee Stars kit, pacing nervously in the technical area.

It is just few hours to kickoff and the pressure is heavier than a matatu packed with passengers and luggage on its way to Kitui.

Across Kenya, fans are holding their breath. Some are already on their knees, invoking everything from their ancestors to the officiating gods, while others are promising to finally buy a Harambee Stars jersey… if they win.

Inside the stadium, the mood is electric as a handful of Kenyan fans who made the trip to Polokwane are outnumbered but loud enough to make Zimbabweans think twice about trying that vuvuzela supremacy nonsense.

Flags are flying, shukas are tied around waists and one overly ambitious fan has painted his face red, white, green and black—a masterpiece resembling a patriotic Picasso.

On the other end of the pitch, Zimbabwe's Warriors are warming up with the swagger of a team that has not tasted defeat in the qualifiers. They are probably thinking, “It’s just Kenya, no big deal.”

But little do they know, Harambee Stars are not here to play tiki-taka today—they are here to play kuni-kata-kuni! (directly translated as "firewood-cutting football").

Michael Olunga, our captain and resident goal machine, is sharpening his scoring instincts like a butcher preparing nyama choma.

Meanwhile, back home, Kenyans are already blaming their TVs for everything that could go wrong.

If the signal lags for even half a second, someone will definitely threaten to sue KBC.

In the villages, transistor radios are tuned to full volume, with fans arguing whether today’s match could be the most important one in Kenya’s football history.

Grandpa Kamau, who saw Kenya beat Zimbabwe in 1952, is adamant, “Those days we didn’t even have boots, just pure passion. Today, they have shiny boots and no excuses.”

And speaking of excuses, coach Engin Fırat has none left.

The Turkish tactician has been pacing the touchline all day, muttering words that sound suspiciously like, “Namibia is watching… Morocco is waiting… We have to win.”

A victory here would not just cement his name in Kenyan football history but could also get him a lifetime supply of nyama choma and ugali from grateful fans.

But it will not be easy. Zimbabwe, wounded and humiliated by a dream in some overly ambitious journalist's imagination, are here to remind Kenya that dreams can quickly become nightmares.

Their captain, whose name is harder to pronounce than a Shangaan clan meeting roll call, has promised to send Kenyan fans home crying. Harsh, but true.

As the clock ticks closer to 7 pm, there is only one thing on every Kenyan’s mind: can the boys deliver? Can Harambee Stars finally shine bright enough to light up the road to Morocco?

One thing is for sure—come 90 minutes, Kenya will either be celebrating like it is Jamhuri Day, or we will all be collectively promising to “focus on athletics because football is too painful.”

Kickoff, Peter Mokaba Stadium. History awaits.