Here are some of the insights we gained from the historic away victory of Harambee Stars over Seychelles.
On Monday night, Harambee Stars put aside their disappointment of losing 2-1 to Gabon when they brushed aside Seychelles to get their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign back on track.
Stars looked comfortable throughout the game and deservedly won the match, which will leave the players leaving the camp in buoyant mood after the disappointment in the opening fixture.
Here are some of the things we learned from their historic away win over Seychelles:
- Harambee Stars achieved their biggest-ever World Cup qualifying away win. For the first time in their history, Harambee Stars managed to record their biggest ever World Cup qualifying win by obliterating Seychelles 5-0, in a game that was practically a one-sided affair. This will come as a huge milestone for the nation and will give them much-needed confidence to not only win their first competitive fixture in two years but to also do it very comfortably away from home.
- Michael Olunga finds his scoring touch. After six consecutive games without a goal, Michael Olunga finally ended his goalscoring drought for Kenya when he scored two goals in the opening five minutes of what proved to be a very comfortable affair for the Kenyans. His first goal showcased proper center-forward play, collecting the ball from outside the area and then carrying it inside before releasing a left-footed shot into the bottom corner of the net.
- Masud Juma proving to be a reliable goal-getter. Masoud Juma netted a goal for Harambee Stars for the third game in a row, proving that he is finally starting to become a reliable goal scorer for the side. Since making his debut in 2017, Juma had proven to be an inconsistent player in front of goal, going several games without finding the back of the net despite efforts. Now that he has scored three in a row, he will want to keep that momentum going when the international matches resume in March 2024.
- Rooney Onyango keeps getting better and better. Rooney Onyango did not disappoint in his third cap for the Harambee Stars. He managed to score his first for the nation and also registered his first assist for teammate Benson Omala. He is quickly making the right-wing position for the national team his own despite being a right-back by trade. If he keeps his momentum going, it will only be a matter of time before fans, journalists, and pundits run out of superlatives to describe the Gor Mahia stalwart.
- Harambee Stars can be dangerous in transitional situations. Kenya is proving that it can be dangerous in transitional situations with fast breaks on the counter-attack. Time and time again, Harambee Stars capitalized on turning over the ball quickly before finishing off Seychelles with quick passing and quick movement. This ability helped them win the game against Qatar and, if perfected, could make them a formidable opponent in 2024.
- Dennis Ng’an’ga adds quality competition at center-back. Dennis Ng’ang’a’s performance, not just against Seychelles but also against Gabon, is likely to make Engin Firat less concerned about convincing Brian Mandela to return from his national team sabbatical. Ng’ang’a’s left foot helped open up the pitch on the left side and find Masoud Juma and the two left-backs, Eric ‘Marcelo’ Ouma and substitute Abud Omar, accurately. He also carried the ball out from the back effectively and was a calming influence with his ability to organize his teammates. He will provide healthy competition for Joseph Okumu once the Reims defender is back from injury.
- Kenya must learn to be more prolific. Although Harambee Stars beat Seychelles 5-0, there’s a feeling that they could have won by a larger margin considering the number of missed chances. Olunga, Juma, and Johana all had opportunities they should have converted. Against higher quality opponents, they must become more ruthless.
- It’s a Gor Mahia affair for Stars. Many keen observers of Kenyan football will have noticed that the fingerprints of 20-time FKF Premier League champions Gor Mahia are all over Harambee Stars. Several players, including Michael Olunga, Anthony Akumu, Erick Otieno, Rooney Onyango, Amos Nondi, Benson Omala, and Kenneth Muguna, have played for or are currently playing for Gor Mahia and have had a positive impact on the national team’s recent success.
