Kenya will face Zimbabwe in a crucial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier in South Africa on Friday, November 15, with the Harambee Stars needing a victory to stay in contention for a spot in next year’s continental competition. The pressure is on Coach Engin Firat and his team, but historical statistics suggest that Kenya can approach the match with optimism.
Kenya’s path to qualification has been challenging. The team has managed to secure just four points from four matches, including a draw and a win, followed by two defeats to Cameroon. To keep their hopes alive, the Harambee Stars must win both their remaining fixtures against Zimbabwe and Namibia while also relying on Zimbabwe not securing a victory against Cameroon in their final qualifier. While this scenario seems a tall order, the statistics surrounding Kenya’s head-to-head record against Zimbabwe suggest that the Stars have a strong chance of securing the necessary points.
Kenya has a good historical record against Zimbabwe, winning six of their 12 encounters since their first meeting in 1982. The teams have drawn five times, with Kenya suffering only one defeat a 2-0 loss in 1985. Since that defeat, Kenya has dominated the fixture, winning four times and drawing the other two encounters. Their recent form against Zimbabwe further strengthens the belief that Kenya can pull off a victory, as the last six meetings have seen Kenya win four times and draw twice.
The most recent encounter between the two teams was in March, during the Four Nations tournament. In that match, Kenya made a stunning comeback after going a goal down, with captain Michael Olunga scoring a hat-trick to lead Kenya to a 3-1 victory. However, when the two sides met in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers in September, Kenya played to a goalless draw in a match where several key players, including Olunga, were absent due to injury or other reasons. Coach Firat opted for a more defensive approach, playing without a recognized striker, which ultimately failed to break down Zimbabwe’s defense.
Kenya will be hoping to make up for this missed opportunity with a more attacking mindset in the upcoming match. With the team in need of a victory to keep their qualification hopes alive, Firat will likely urge his players to be more aggressive, especially in the offensive third. Despite the absence of some key players, Kenya’s squad still boasts a wealth of talent, and the return of their star striker Olunga could make a significant difference. Olunga’s presence up front will give Kenya the attacking edge, and his ability to score goals will be vital in a game that is essentially a must-win.
The Kenyan players will also be motivated by their impressive record against Zimbabwe. A victory over Zimbabwe would boost their morale heading into the final qualifier against Namibia, and it would put them in a stronger position to continue their pursuit of AFCON qualification. The squad will undoubtedly take confidence from their past successes against the Warriors, and they will be hoping that their historical dominance continues in this crucial encounter.
Zimbabwe, on the other hand, enters the match in strong form, having remained unbeaten in their qualifying campaign so far. After drawing with both Kenya and Cameroon, Zimbabwe secured two wins against Namibia, which has placed them in second place on the qualification table with eight points. While Zimbabwe has shown resilience in the qualifiers, their record against Kenya does not inspire the same level of confidence as their more recent form in the competition. Zimbabwe will likely be aware of Kenya’s strong historical record against them, which may add extra pressure on them heading into this encounter.
In conclusion, Kenya enters their AFCON qualifier against Zimbabwe with reason to be hopeful. Despite the challenges of missing key players and the tough road ahead, Kenya’s strong head-to-head record against Zimbabwe and the team’s collective determination to succeed offer a glimmer of hope. With Olunga leading the line and the team playing with a sense of urgency, Kenya will be aiming to secure a vital three points that will keep their AFCON dream alive.
