Kenya won’t play in next year’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to be hosted by Morocco from December 2025 to mid-January 2026 after a 1-1 draw against Zimbabwe in Polokwane on Friday, November 15.
The qualifying match left Harambee Stars four points behind Zimbabwe in third place in Group J, making it hard for the national team to be among the top two. Kenya needed a win before their next game against Namibia and had to pray for Zimbabwe to lose to Cameroon in their final match, but their hopes were dimmed by the South Africans.
This means Zimbabwe and Cameroon are already through, with Kenya now set to face Namibia next week in a match that holds no water for Group J standings. Zimbabwe took the lead in the 32nd minute thanks to Tawanda Maswanhise who fired a shot past Byrne Omondi to make it 1-0.
Harambee Stars had to pull their socks up thereby finding an equalizer in the 52nd minute after Jonah Ayunga took advantage of an error at the Zimbabwean defense area to get the first goal –goalkeeper spilled the ball, allowing Ayunga to pounce on the rebound before a Warriors defender could clear it off the line.
“This is a match which means a lot to us and we must handle it with care,” Engin Firat, the Kenya head coach, said ahead of the game.
As Mr Firat maintained that Harambee Stars would be cautious facing Zimbabwe, the match was Kenya to lose. The national team really struggled to create the much-needed chances to secure the win they needed prior to the match against Namibia next week.
It is also interesting to note that Botswana missed the chance to book their second appearance at AFCON after drawing 1-1 at home against Mauritania in Group C.
Cape Verde were eliminated after a 1-1 stalemate at home against already-qualified Egypt.
Botswana will now need a point from their trip to Egypt on Tuesday, November 19, to qualify, while Mauritania will finish second in the group only if they win at home against Cape Verde and Botswana are beaten in Cairo.
