Harambee Stars first assistant coach Kennedy Odhiambo has revealed what led to the team’s elimination from the 2025 CHAN qualifiers.Stars were kicked out of the qualifiers after losing 3-1 on aggregate to South Sudan, who proceeded to the final round of the qualifiers.The Bright Stars won the first leg 2-0 in Juba before frustrating Kenya to a one-all draw in the return leg hosted at the Mandela Stadium in Namboole, Uganda.Odhiambo, who doubles up as Bandari head coach, attributed the shocking defeat to the experience the South Sudanese team had over Stars.##NAJAVA_MECA_8486562##The tactician observed that the majority of players in the South Sudanese team had gathered experience thanks to their regular participation in the World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.Odhiambo noted that Kenya rarely used domestic players in serious players in similar matches, unlike the Bright Stars.He said the results, the South Sudanese team had, registered in the World Cup and Afcon qualifiers, against top opponents in the continent while relying on local-based players were a testament to the ground they had covered and their experience.Amos Wanjala in as Firat names Harambee Stars squad for final 2025 AFCON qualifiers“We lost to a team that is used to playing together in big matches. Their team is largely made up of local-based players, who have played together for years. Looking at the results they have been registering in World Cup and AFCON qualifiers against top teams, it shows that is a team that has gelled well. This was the first time we were assembling a squad purely constituted by local players, after a long time,” explained Odhiambo in an interview with SportsBoom.The CAF A license holder also conceded that their fate was sealed in the first leg in Juba, where the hosts took maximum advantage of home comfort to beat Kenya.He regretted that Stars were growing weary of covering long distances to play home matches in a dull atmosphere as fans rarely travel to Uganda.Harambee Stars ditch Uganda as ‘home’ venue for 2025 AFCON QualifiersOdhiambo, was in pain to express the team’s desire to play home matches in Nairobi and reconnect with the fans whom they last played in front of in September 2023. Kenya has been hosting home matches in Uganda and Malawi due to the lack of a CAF-approved stadium.”We didn’t lose to a team that is stronger than us. However, some factors that are beyond our control contributed to it. South Sudan had home advantage when it mattered most, and they used it. Unfortunately, we did enjoy the same privilege in the return match and thus the result. The team misses playing home matches in Kenya,” added Odhiambo.
