Harambee Stars captain Michael Olunga has voiced his disappointment over Kenya’s failure to secure a victory against Burundi in their recent match, which was crucial for their World Cup qualifiers in June. Olunga expressed particular frustration that they did not meet their goal of earning four points from the two matches they played this month in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Kenya achieved only two points from these games, playing to a 1-1 draw against Burundi and then holding their own in a commendable goalless draw with Ivory Coast, the African champions. These results placed them fourth in Group F with a total of five points.
Olunga reflected on the missed opportunity against Burundi, stating, “We aimed for maximum points against Burundi, but it wasn’t to be, which was a blow to our ambitions in the group. However, I commend the players for their strong performance against Ivory Coast, which helped us secure a point.”
The team had high expectations going into the match against Burundi, as Olunga highlighted: “We went into the match in Malawi hoping to bring back at least four points, but that plan was thwarted after our initial game against Burundi. Everyone was disappointed with that result, but it wasn’t the end for us. We regrouped and delivered a solid performance against Ivory Coast.”
Despite the initial setback, Olunga praised the team’s resilience and reaction: “We put the Burundi game behind us and focused on what was next. The players responded brilliantly. We knew Ivory Coast was targeting two wins from their matches, so it was going to be tough. Every player gave their all, with each running over 10 kilometers during the game, which demonstrates our commitment and the sacrifices we made for the team and the country.”
Harambee Stars were on the verge of a win against Burundi after Duke Abuya scored in the second half, but a defensive error allowed the Swallows to equalize and split the points.
Under coach Engin Firat’s leadership, the team showed great spirit against Ivory Coast, managing to secure a draw and becoming the first team in Group F to prevent the African champions from winning or scoring.
Ivory Coast currently leads the group with 10 points, followed by Gabon with nine points and Burundi with seven. The Harambee Stars are set to face Gambia away before hosting Gabon in March 2025.
