On October 7, 2024, the president of Fécafoot, Samuel Eto’o, and the Minister of Sports, Narcisse Mouelle Kombi, officially restored their relations after months of tensions. But behind this appeasement, fragile compromises were made on both sides, in particular concerning the rearrangement of the technical staff of the Indomitable Lions.
On October 14, Kenya will face Cameroon in Kampala, Uganda, as part of the 4th day of the CAN 2025 qualifiers. However, the Kenya Football Federation (Fkf) has decided to play this match behind closed doors. , a decision confirmed by Harambee Stars coach, Engin Firat. This measure was motivated by security concerns, with the Kenyan coach citing several incidents in the past.
Engin Firat particularly highlighted the problems that occurred during a previous match between Zimbabwe and Cameroon, where disturbances were observed. The coach also recalled the events surrounding Cameroonian goalkeeper André Onana whose popularity in Uganda could lead to an influx of supporters likely to disadvantage the Kenyan team. In his eyes, allowing the presence of the public would amount to giving an unfair advantage to the Indomitable Lions who would benefit from significant support on the ground. The decision to play behind closed doors therefore aims to ensure fair playing conditions and minimize the risk of disruption, in a context where security remains an absolute priority for the organizers.
Engin Firat justified this decision during a press conference. “During this meeting, security problems were noted. Furthermore, we noticed that the Ugandan public, particularly Manchester United supporters, overwhelmingly supported the Cameroonian team and their goalkeeper, André Onana,” he explained.
According to the coach, this clear support for the Indomitable Lions could have a negative impact on the performance of Kenyan players. “Allowing spectators to encourage our opponents in a match of such importance would be counterproductive,” he added, emphasizing the importance of playing behind closed doors to ensure a more neutral atmosphere and reduce the risk. of external influence on the progress of the match.
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