Kenya took on Zimbabwe in South Africa in what was a do-or-die encounter for the Harambee Stars who had to win, to keep alive their slim chances of qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.Head coach Engin Firat looked to secure that elusive fourth competitive win in three years, as the sides met at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.In this tactical analysis piece, we set out to understand what the game plan was for Firat, who had been bullish in stating he knew how Zimbabwe would set up. Harambee Stars to miss out on AFCON 2025 after draw with ZimbabweIn a match that ended 1-1 and all but secured qualification for Zimbabwe, what exactly did Kenya want to do?Kenya set up in a 1-4-4-1-1 formation, Byrne Omondi was in goal with Daniel Anyembe at right back. Joseph Okumu and Johnstone Omurwa were the central defensive pairing with Abud Omar a surprise inclusion at left-back.The double-pivot consisted of evergreen Anthony Akumu and Amos Nondi. ##NAJAVA_MECA_8507015##The wings consisted of Rooney Onyango and Eric ‘Marcelo’ Ouma with Jonah Ayunga playing off Michael Olunga who led the hunt for goals.Firat has always received a lot of backlash from football stakeholders, coaches and fans for not playing players in their rightful positions. This game was no different with a raft of positional rotations. In Possession, Kenya looked to build in a 2-3-1-4 formation with the fullbacks lower and Amos Nondi pushing slightly higher up between the lines. The strategy was to leave the wingers high and wide and look to play balls in behind then spamming crosses to the two big men in the box.Firat gives verdict on unfulfilled AFCON 2025 promiseOn settled possession, Kenya took up a 4-2-4 formation, with the full-backs lower and the frontline going man for man against the Zimbabwe backline. For a game Kenya needed to win, and against a resolute Zimbabwe defense that had only conceded one goal before this fixture in the qualifiers, this approach raised a lot of eyebrows.The Zimbabwe backline was well equipped for the long balls in behind and the switch balls. Zimbabwean fullbacks Jordan Zemura of Serie A side Udinese and Munashe Garananga of FC Copenhagen handled the wide channels well limiting Kenya to no clear-cut chances.With a clear indication that Kenya was finding it hard to break through the Zimbabwe 1-4-4-2 block. Some alterations were needed to aid in progression. ##NAJAVA_MECA_8505577##The visible in-game tweaks saw Akumu take up an auxiliary fullback role with Marcelo coming into midfield, this however denied Kenya the width needed on the left as Abud did not push up to occupy the left wing.Kenya was clearly struggling to find spaces, especially in midfield as Zimbabwe were very aggressive in the central areas and their pressing triggers were the fullbacks. The lack of an advanced creative force in midfield seemed to leave the two strikers isolated.Zimbabwe vs Kenya Player Ratings: Ayunga, Omurwa shine as Harambee Stars face elimination from AFCON qualificationKenya looked to find a pocket of space at the half-hour mark with Rooney free, took on his man 1v1 then could not keep the composure in the box to slot home as he blazed his effort well over the bar. From this Kenya immediately conceded with the space in behind, Zimbabwe combined to find Tawanda Maswanhise who had been a thorn in Abud’s flesh for a majority of the half-slotted home past Byrne, giving Zimbabwe the lead.Zimbabwe’s main threat had been the channel runs from the forwards, the wingers looked to slide in halfspace balls for the shoulder runs of the forwards to attack. This was their main mode of chance creation coupled with progressive carries by wingers.##NAJAVA_MECA_8502045##Kenya’s out-of-possession, as has been the case with Firat was decent, a high 4-1-3-2 going man-for-man against the Zimbabwe build-up. The left winger Marcelo looked to focus on marking a central midfielder in the double pivot, neglecting the ball far defender. In the mid-block, Kenya shifted into a 4-4-1-1 with one striker putting pressure on the fullbacks while the other marked the opponent’s deep playmakerGoals have been the issue for coach Firat, and as the game pushed on the more the frustration grew.Mathare United defender faults Kenyan players in clubs not honouring contractsDuke Abuya was brought on for Abud, with the Yanga midfielder whose omission raised eyebrows was deployed on the left wing with Ouma moving back to his preferred left back. The second-half instruction looked to urge the fullbacks higher and with Duke coming inside, this enabled more bodies in midfield and nearer the forwards. With this variation Kenya instantly got the ball in the back of the net. Duke carried progressively, pushing it to the advanced left back who lobbed in a good cross that was tapped in after a mistimed clearance.##NAJAVA_MECA_8502153##Duke’s inclusion looked to shift the pendulum as he now played more progressive line-breaking passes than the forwards could run into. Zimbabwe managed to hold on for the draw and secure qualification as Kenya licked their wounds, looking to turn focus to the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and the CHAN championship that will be hosted in the country. Another case of so close yet so far.
