Kenya’s Harambee Stars have been eliminated from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers following a 1-1 draw with Zimbabwe in their Group J clash. The result dashed Kenya’s hopes of advancing to the tournament in Morocco, leaving them with no chance of qualifying regardless of the outcome of their final group match against Namibia.
The Stars approached the game needing an outright win to keep their qualification hopes alive. A victory against Zimbabwe would have left them reliant on a Zimbabwean loss to Cameroon in the group’s final round of fixtures. Despite showing promise in the early stages, the Kenyan side failed to secure the vital result.
Harambee Stars began the match energetically, demonstrating sharp movement and intent to dominate possession. Their first chance came in the third minute when captain Michael Olunga received a well-placed pass inside the penalty area. However, Zimbabwean defender Teenage Hadebe made a critical interception to prevent the Stars from taking an early lead.
Defensively, Kenya held firm in the opening exchanges, with Johnstone Omurwa making a crucial clearance to deny Tawanda Maswanhise’s long-range effort. However, Zimbabwe eventually broke the deadlock in the 32nd minute. Maswanhise unleashed a thunderous strike that sailed past goalkeeper Byrne Omondi, putting the hosts 1-0 up with their first shot on target.
The Stars had a chance to equalize five minutes later, but Rooney Onyango squandered an opportunity, blasting his shot wide as Zimbabwe’s defense momentarily faltered. This marked the last significant chance of the half, with Kenya heading into the break trailing by a goal.
In the second half, Harambee Stars looked to respond quickly, and their efforts bore fruit in the 52nd minute. Jonah Ayunga capitalized on a costly mistake by Zimbabwe’s goalkeeper, who spilled the ball in a dangerous area. Ayunga reacted swiftly, slotting the rebound into the net to level the score at 1-1.
Despite the equalizer, Kenya struggled to sustain pressure on Zimbabwe, who made tactical adjustments to tighten their defense. Zimbabwe nearly regained the lead when substitute Godknows Murilwa missed a golden opportunity, sending his shot wide after a cross from the left flank.
Kenya continued to create chances but failed to convert them into goals. Olunga, who had been influential throughout the qualifiers, missed a good opportunity to give his team the lead. Zimbabwe’s disciplined defense and effective counterattacks kept the pressure on Kenya, while their late substitution of Divine Lunga added fresh legs to their forward line.
In the dying minutes, Harambee Stars threw everything forward, seeking the crucial winning goal. However, Zimbabwe held firm, frustrating Kenya’s attacking efforts. Byrne Omondi, the Kenyan goalkeeper, was instrumental in preventing Zimbabwe from finding a late winner, confidently handling crosses and long balls aimed at his goal.
The final whistle confirmed Kenya’s elimination from the qualifiers, marking another disappointment for the national team in their pursuit of continental glory. Despite flashes of promise and individual performances, Harambee Stars lacked the clinical edge needed to secure qualification. Their campaign ends with one match remaining, leaving fans and players to reflect on what might have been.
As the AFCON 2025 qualifiers near their conclusion, Kenya will look to rebuild and learn from the experience, setting their sights on future competitions.
