SportsNews

Kenya’s AFCON chances in limbo after back-to-back losses to Cameroon

Published

1 year ago

October 15, 2024

Harambee Stars consecutive losses to Cameroon have left the country’s chances of qualifying for next year’s AFCON in jeopardy
Kenya’s situation was complicated further by Zimbabwe’s back-to-back wins against Namibia, who were at the last AFCON
Kenya are seeking to return to the biggest continental stage since 2019 as they prepare to host the 2027 edition

Kenya’s national football team is set to suffer another classic case of ‘so close, yet so far’ as far as qualifying for major tournaments is concerned – unless something huge happens.

At the start of the October international break, Harambee Stars had their own destiny in their own hands in the journey to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

After a draw and a win, Kenya sat joint-top with Cameroon ahead of the doubleheader against the African giants. Decent results in the two games could have reaffirmed the belief that Kenya would return to the continental stage for the first time since 2019.

AFCON 2025 qualification standings

But the desired results didn’t come through. A 4-1 defeat in Yaounde followed by a 1-0 loss in Kampala and all of a sudden, Kenyan fans are staring at an all-too-familiar script.

FT

🇰🇪 0-1 🇨🇲#HarambeeStars pic.twitter.com/wSJGLfRUqf

— Harambee Stars (@Harambee__Stars) October 14, 2024

The result against the five-time African champions wasn’t made better by Zimbabwe’s double haul over Namibia. Group J now has Cameroon at the top with 10 points and an already assured spot in Morocco next year.

Zimbabwe is second with eight points with Kenya further back with four points. Namibia have already been eliminated with zero points so far.

How Kenya can still qualify for AFCON 2025

Now, this is where it gets tricky for Kenya; Zimbabwe only need a point from their remaining two games to make it through. They will host Kenya before going away to Cameroon.

“After four games and back-to-back defeats against Cameroon, it puts Kenya in a very difficult situation. Cameroon have already qualified; Zimbabwe only need a draw against Kenya to qualify,” says journalist Dollar SM to TUKO.co.ke.
https://twitter.com/iDiskiTimes/status/1845886248721822098?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1845886248721822098%7Ctwgr%5Ea7f382272b60e9ec8f890cadb512a405a138a496%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tuko.co.ke%2Fsports%2Ffootball%2F565439-kenyas-afcon-chances-limbo-losses-cameroon%2F

Engin Firat and his side have now been reduced to expecting favours from elsewhere to book a ticket to Morocco.

“Kenya’s only hope is that they win the remaining two matches and Cameroon beat Zimbabwe.”

Should Engin Firat remain as Harambee Stars head coach?

Speaking of Firat, Dollar argues that the Turkish tactician has run his course with the national team and that there is an urgent need for change.

“Firat has run out of his depth. There is nothing new he is offering us at the moment aside from off-pitch theatrics.”

https://x.com/WanjikuReports/status/1845843537075621953?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1845843537075621953%7Ctwgr%5Ea7f382272b60e9ec8f890cadb512a405a138a496%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tuko.co.ke%2Fsports%2Ffootball%2F565439-kenyas-afcon-chances-limbo-losses-cameroon%2F

Speaking after the game, Firat acknowledged the dire situation Harambee Stars are in ahead of the November games.

“Our plan was not to come out without points against Cameroon. We did not also expect Namibia to lose three matches considering that they were at the AFCON earlier in the year. It complicated the group further. We have to win the remaining matches so as to qualify,” he said, as quoted by Mozzart Sport.

Onana sent to Ten Hag by Ugandan fans

TUKO.co.ke has also reported that Onana was sent to Erik ten Hag with a clear message.

Onana was mobbed by fans upon his arrival in Uganda for the rematch against Kenya.

A Ugandan man, who identified himself as a Manchester United fan, asked Onana to tell Ten Hag to produce better results.

SportsNews

Chelsea mathematically out of title race after 3-0 defeat to Everton

Published

5 days ago

March 21, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

Chelsea are now mathematically out of the Premier League title race.

This follows their 3-0 drubbing in the hands of Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday night.

Liam Rosenior’s men came into the match with 48 points, looking to keep pace with the teams in front of them.

However, Beto opened the scoring for the hosts in the first half, before adding a second after the break.

Chelsea barely threatened Everton and looked flat for most of the game, before Iliman Ndiaye added a third.

The result means the Blues cannot match the 70 points that league leaders Arsenal currently have with seven matches left.

Champions Liverpool are also on the verge of being mathematically ruled out, as they have 49 points.

SportsNews

Super Eagles player bounced me from Iheanacho’s room — Osimhen

Published

5 days ago

March 21, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

Galatasaray striker, Victor Osimhen, has claimed that a senior member of the Super Eagles squad in 2017 sent him away from a hotel room during his first call-up to the national team.

According to the 27-year-old, it was Kelechi Iheanacho who intervened and welcomed him inside.

Osimhen revealed this while appearing on a Twitch livestream with comedian, Carter Efe in the early hours of Saturday.

He said: “When I came, I met Iheanacho. And I told him, ‘ah, see me, I’m gonna carry your boots.’ So he said I should come to his room so, he gave me his room number.

“So, as I got to his room — I don’t just want to mention the name — he had a roommate. So, as I knocked on the door, the roommate opened the door. So, he like bounced me out of the room.”

Osimhen refused to reveal the identity of the player who sent him away.

SportsNews

AFCON 2025; Drama as Senegal Reportedly Relocates Trophy To Military Base After CAF Decision (Video)

Published

6 days ago

March 20, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

Drama as Senegal reportedly relocates AFCON trophy to military base after Confederation of African Football (CAF) viral decision.

‎It would be recalled that CAF stripped Senegal of their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title, awarding it to Morocco instead.

This decision came after Morocco appealed the result of the January 18 final, where Senegal won 1-0 in extra time.

‎ According to the CAF Appeal Board, Senegal had forfeited the match due to their players walking off the pitch in protest of a penalty awarded to Morocco, citing Articles 82 and 84 of the AFCON regulations.

The controversy surrounds the AFCON final, where Senegal’s players walked off the pitch in protest of a late penalty awarded to Morocco.

In a clip circulating on the microblogging platform, X (formerly Twitter), a young man with glasses is seen holding the AFCON trophy surrounded by military personnel.

The clip captures the military personnel’s excitement as they support the trophy, with an officer recording the moment.

In a recent development, Senegal has announced plans to appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), with some officials and players expressing outrage and disappointment.