Kenya head coach Engin Firat has urged the Kenya Football Federation to address the problems with facilities in the country ahead of the dead rubber against Namibia at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Tuesday, November 19.
Kick-off is at 3pm CAT (SA, GMT+2)
Current form:
The Harambee Stars’ hopes of qualifying for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations ended with a 1-1 draw against Zimbabwe at the same venue on November 15.
Firat’s side won just one of their opening five matches in Group J, having beaten the Brave Warriors 1-0 in Soweto on matchday 2 before suffering back-to-back defeats against Cameroon.
The East Africans last featured at the continental showpiece in 2019 and Firat insists nothing will change until they are allowed to host home games inside their own borders again.
Namibia had similar issues after staging their three “home” games at the Orlando Stadium in South Africa, where they managed to pick up just one point.
Collin Benjamin’s side held the Indomitable Lions to a 0-0 draw on November 13 to put their first point on the board after four consecutive losses.
What was said:
Kenya head coach Engin Firat
“In Kenya, it’s only we want, we want, we want. By giving what? In three years, we have never played a match at home [in Kenya]; show me another nation that has gone through that. We have no fans, nothing, we have no support.
“We don’t even have a training field in Kenya. Show me one training field. Which training field can you compare to another country? As long as we don’t solve these problems, what would you want to do?
“Do we change something, federation change? Coach change? What will change at the end? Nothing. There is a reason why the national team did not qualify for the last two AFCONs.”
Players to watch:
Kenya – Michael Olunga has a chance to inch closer to William Ouma’s record as the Harambee Stars’ all-time leading goalscorer as the 30-year-old striker is just five shy of equalling his compatriot’s tally of 35. He has gone two games without scoring since breaking the 30-goal mark in the 4-1 reverse to Cameroon on October 11.
Namibia – Peter Shalulile is the Brave Warriors’ talisman, although he has yet to find the back of the net for his country in 2024. The Mamelodi Sundowns star also endured a barren spell in South Africa, but has scored four goals in his last five league and cup appearances to boost his confidence ahead of the Carling Knockout final against Magesi on November 23.
Head-to-Head:
Matches – 5
Kenya wins – 3
Namibia wins – 2
Draws – 0
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