Cameroon head coach Marc Brys has highlighted a key factor that could give Harambee Stars an advantage in the upcoming AFCON 2025 Group J qualifying rematch, despite their 4-1 defeat in the first leg. According to Brys, Kenya’s decision to host the second leg in Kampala, Uganda, rather than at home, will significantly influence the outcome.
The Indomitable Lions comfortably defeated Kenya on Friday, thanks in part to the strong support from their home crowd. However, due to Kenya’s lack of a FIFA and CAF-approved stadium, they will play their home matches at Uganda’s Nelson Mandela Stadium (Namboole) in Kampala. Brys is concerned about the effect of playing in an empty stadium, where Harambee Stars have become accustomed to playing since international football resumed in 2023.
“It’s a dead stadium, so you have to bring the energy yourself,” Brys said during a press briefing on Sunday. “In a typical home game, the fans are there to cheer you on, which gives you power, drive, and confidence. But in a large, empty stadium, it’s just your teammates on the field and your coach shouting. Beyond that, you have to motivate yourself.”
Despite Cameroon’s dominant performance in the first leg, Brys warned his players not to underestimate Kenya. He acknowledged that Kenya’s performance was disjointed in the first match, but he cautioned his team against taking a “wounded animal” lightly.
“After a good game, there’s always the danger of becoming complacent. You have to stay sharp and focused. Kenya has shown in previous matches, like against Zimbabwe and Namibia in September, that they can be a strong team,” Brys said. “It would be foolish of us to overlook their quality.”
Kenya, aiming to qualify for their first AFCON tournament since 2019, will be seeking to overturn the deficit and get back in contention. Brys emphasized the need for humility, noting that just because they won the first leg does not mean the return leg will be easy.
“After beating a team 4-1, there’s often a tendency to think the return leg is a mere formality, but we don’t see it that way. We approach every game with humility and give our best,” he added.
Finally, Brys promised that Cameroon will play with a sense of responsibility, aiming to make their nation proud. “We have 30 million Cameroonians depending on us. We carry that weight with pride. We accept the stress, the pressure, and we will give our best to make our people happy.”
