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

Published

1 year ago

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  • 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.

 

 

 

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.

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EPL: Fulham must move on from defeat to Manchester City — Iwobi

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3 days ago

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December 3, 2025

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Alex Iwobi says Fulham must stay positive despite their 5-4 defeat to Manchester City at Craven Cottage on Tuesday.

Marco Silva’s side put up a spirited display in the encounter, and were unlucky not to get at least one point.

Iwobi started the fight back by scoring the second goal for Fulham early in the second half.

The versatile midfielder’s compatriot, Samuel Chukwueze then rose from the bench to score two more goals for the Cottagers.

Manchester City, however, held on to go home with maximum points.

Iwobi stated that they deserved more from the game.

“I feel disappointed because we didn’t get anything out of the fighting spirit that we showed, but I think we have to take the positivity from the game,” Iwobi told the club’s official website.

Fulham will be away to Crystal Palace in their next Premier League game on Sunday.

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EPL: Guardiola names team that impresses him everyday

Published

3 days ago

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December 3, 2025

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Manchester City boss, Pep Guardiola has named the Premier League club that has impressed him so much this season.

The Spaniard said that Enzo Maresca’s side have really impressed him with the improvement they make everyday.

Speaking after Manchester City beat Fulham 5-4 in the Premier League on Tuesday night, Guardiola pointed out that a team must remain consistent to win the title.

Pep Guardiola’s side closed the gap at the top of the Premier League to just two points behind Arsenal with the victory over Fulham, but the Gunners could maintain their five points lead with a win over Brentford on Wednesday night.

“Chelsea impresses me more and more every day with Enzo [Maresca], but it’s long,” he told reporters after the win.

“Premier League is so long, many things will happen. We won six Premier Leagues, four or five when we in December, January or February we were behind.

“The team who wins the Premier League is the team who grows during the months and this is what we try to do. No injuries, it’s so long.

“But at the same time, if we push, we will be better and push ourselves and control the situations better, the emotions and we will see what happens.”

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Outrage As ‘Biological Male’ Wins World’s Strongest Woman Event in Texas (Photos)

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1 week ago

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November 26, 2025

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The 2025 World’s Strongest Woman final has sparked outrage after an alleged transgender athlete won gold.

American Jammie Booker, who is accused of being a biological male, beat Great Britain’s Andrea Thompson to victory at the event in Arlington, Texas.

According to Mail Online, Thompson walked off the podium, appearing to say ‘this is bulls***,’ while Booker celebrated. The Brit has since been crowned the ‘true World’s Strongest Woman’ by her coach and some of her peers.

Rebecca Roberts, a three-time winner of World’s Strongest Woman, has sensationally claimed that no one – not even the organizers – knew about Booker’s background.

Details on the American are not clear, but the publication sighted a YouTube video – uploaded to what appears to be Booker’s YouTube channel in September 2017, with Booker saying: ‘Everyone is dying to tell their own story and I am obviously no exception to that.

‘I’m 21-year-old trans woman with a history of abuse, struggling to stay true to herself while under the rule of her religious parents.’

On Monday night, Roberts posted a picture on Instagram that read ‘Protect Women’s Sports.’ She wrote alongside the picture: ‘I hold no hate toward transgender people. Everyone deserves dignity, respect, and the freedom to live their truth.

But I cannot stay silent about something that threatens the fairness and future of women’s strength sports. Transgender women, people born male, should not be competing in the women’s category.

This isn’t about identity. It isn’t about politics. It’s about the undeniable physical differences that exist in strength-based sports… differences that don’t disappear, and that matter more here than almost anywhere else. Women’s categories were created for a reason, and if we lose that, we lose the foundation of our sport.

‘What happened this weekend wasn’t transparent. None of us knew. Not even the organisers knew. And when fairness is taken by surprise, trust in the sport begins to crack.

‘My message is simple. Trans people belong in sport, but women’s divisions must remain biologically born female-only.

‘I love this sport. I have given my life to it. And I won’t ignore something that could quietly change it forever. Congratulations to @andreathompson_strongwoman… the true World’s Strongest Woman 2025’

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