Harambee Stars coach Engin Firat had his wish granted after Namibia were beaten by Cameroon in their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Saturday, setting the stage for Kenya’s next group match against Namibia.
Cameroon, led by veteran striker Vincent Aboubakar, secured a 1-0 victory over the Brave Warriors, putting the Indomitable Lions at the top of Group J with three points. Meanwhile, Kenya and Zimbabwe are both tied with one point each after their goalless draw on Friday.
Firat had expressed a preference for this result, suggesting that a Namibia loss would simplify Kenya’s task in their upcoming clash on Tuesday. “If they [Namibia] lose to Cameroon, I’m sure they’ll play more offensively, and this will make everything for us more… I can’t say easier… but we can play our game more freely,” Firat stated following Kenya’s draw with Zimbabwe.
Firat believes Namibia, needing points, will adopt a more open, attacking approach in their next game, which could create opportunities for the Harambee Stars to exploit. However, while the coach’s prediction remains to be tested, Kenya will need to perform at their best if they want a positive result. The match, which will be played in South Africa, won’t be easy as Namibia, despite their loss to group favorites Cameroon, are still a formidable side, having reached the Round of 16 in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
