Harambee Stars received a reality check in their quest for a ticket to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations finals after losing 4-1 to Cameroon at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaounde on Friday night.The 2017 AFCON’s best player Christian Bassogog proved his influence and flair as he was involved in all four goals the Indomitable Lions scored on a ground where they have never tasted defeat.Coming into the match, Stars had hoped to pull a football miracle and upset Cameroon but Engin Firat and his boys were taught bitter football lessons, suffering the second-heaviest defeat in ten years.The defeat leaves a significant task for Stars in their search for a return ticket to the AFCON as they will have to return the favour when the two sides meet on Monday at Mandela Stadium in Namboole.Match ReportWhat was a good start for Stars was ruined by what appeared to be a controversial penalty awarded in the sixth minute by the centre referee Issa Sy who adjudged Eric ‘Marcelo’ Ouma to have handled in the box.##NAJAVA_MECA_8409210##Marcelo was adjudged to have used his arm to block a shot by Bryan Mbeumo in the full glare of the Senegalese official who pointed to the spot, drawing protests from Kenyan players.After nearly two minutes of pleas from Kenyan players, veteran striker Vincent Aboubakar stepped up and sent Patrick Matasi the wrong way to break the deadlock.The goal sucked out confidence from Stars as they lost control and the confidence they had early in the game, allowing Cameroon to dominate.Okumu benched as Firat names team to face CameroonBassogog unleashed terror on the right side thanks to his speed, power and dribbling skills that could not find the perfect match from Amos Nondi and Rooney Onyango, who occasionally dropped to offer support.Stars grew in confidence again only for Matasi to drag the team back to the pit again as his howler in the 39th minute saw Cameroon double their lead.Matasi turned what seemed like a harmless shot by Martin Hongla into the net complicating Stars’ chances of levelling matters.Michael Olunga gave a ray of hope for Stars in the 41st minute after heading a well-weighted free kick, by Marcelo, past Andre Onana in what was the first shot on target for Kenya.Firat explains Masud Juma’s Harambee Stars presence after 10-month injury layoffHowever, hopes of going to the dressing room with scores on the level were quickly put off by a counterattack that bore the third goal as Bassogog combined with Mbeumo with the latter tapping in from close range.Goals continued to rain after the restart as Cameroon added the fourth ten minutes into the second half as Bassogog picked the ball from the edge before going past his marker, Matasi and netted into an empty goal.Anthony Akumu had lost possession in a dangerous area as Hongla intercepted his poor pass before making a run into the Stars area with Bassogog on his shoulder.With the three points almost in the bag, Cameroon brought in fresh legs, a move that clearly came as a reprieve for Stars as they managed to contain them up to the final whistle.
