Harambee Stars took on Namibia in a dead rubber 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier with Zimbabwe and Cameroon having already secured qualification from Group J with a round of matches to spare.In this tactical analysis piece, we set out to understand how under pressure Kenya head coach Engin Firat set his side up to counter Namibia’s Collin Benjamin in a bid to bow out of the qualifiers in style.Coach Firat has repeatedly bemoaned the lack of stadia in Kenya to host qualifiers on home soil and this was no different as Kenya played host to the Namibians in an empty Peter Mokaba Stadium. The dull atmosphere set the stage for a drab 0-0 draw.Kenya U20 team set to play English Premier League side in two friendliesThe Turkish-Cypriot tactician set his side up in a nominal 4-2-3-1 formation, ringing changes from the 1-1 draw against Zimbabwe at the same venue.Byrne Omondi looks to have now cemented his status as Kenya’s number 1 shot-stopper. The central defensive pairing was shaken up with Daniel Anyembe partnering Johnstone Omurwa as Polish-based Eric ‘Marcelo’ Ouma played at left with Gor Mahia man Rooney Onyango playing in his natural right-back role.With Richard Odada coming back to the team after suspension and rumours of Anthony Akumu looking to exit the national team stage, Firat gave his long-preferred midfield duo what looked like the last dance. Ahead of the double midfield pivot was FKF Premier League’s Most Valuable Player Austin Odhiambo.##NAJAVA_MECA_8511255##John Avire and Yanga SC midfielder Duke Abuya flanked Norwegian-based Alfred Scriven.Namibia’s tactician Collin Benjamin on the other hand had 10 local-based players in his team a stark contrast to Kenya who had only three local-based players in the starting 11.The Southern African nation set up in a 3-4-3 formation, with emphasis on width provision by the wingbacks to stretch the opposition backline, creating space for central combinations into the forwards, another mode of progression for the Namibians was long balls into the wallman or a channel run from either of the forwards.Harambee Stars huff and puff but end AFCON Qualifiers with drab draw against NamibiaOut of possession, Namibia looked to wait for Kenya, not setting up in a high block but a mid-5-4-1 structure.In this match, the interesting aspects were how Kenya varied in build-up, progression and creation phases. With what looked like a lot of positional freedom for the players to pick pockets of space and rotate.In the initial build-up phase, Kenya looked to build in a 3, the variations occurred with either the left-back Eric Ouma staying deep, this would create a 3-5-2 structure with Avire providing width on the left and Rooney Onyango the more advanced fullback on the right, providing width on that end, in this scheme, as we will see in other schemes, Austin would drop alongside the double pivot to aid in progression.##NAJAVA_MECA_8511254##Avire in turn made darted runs in behind the Namibia backline but service was not forthcoming, or when he received the ball he had to cut in and was almost always double-teamed, forcing him to play back, stifling attacks.Another variation was having either Anthony Akumu or Richard Odada who is mainly key in this, dropping between the centre-backs to form a 3-4-3 structure in the settled possession phase. This scheme would see Eric Ouma and Rooney Onyango pushing higher up.This seemed to create the most balance in the team as the wingers would move into the halfspace. Creating numerical superiority in the central areas, the wingers would look to drag their markers out by dropping to receive movements and if followed, the vacated space would look to be attacked by another player.Oliech reveals best candidate to succeed Engin Firat as Harambee Stars coachThe final visible variation was the 2-1-4-3 where fullbacks would push higher up, the deep-lying progressor would then look to create a triangle with the central defenders.The only issue in this phase was the attacking midfielder again dropped too deep, disjointing the team from midfield to attack, and leaving the forward line isolated. Thus the striker, Scriven had to feed off scraps.This saw the best chance of the half come from a Scriven header off a cross and a set piece headed wide by Omurwa, the centre-back.##NAJAVA_MECA_8511236##Kenya were struggling in the attacking phase through a lack of link as aforementioned.Out of possession, Zimbabwe did not pose any major threat to Kenya, especially in the first half. Kenya looked to defend in a 4-4-2 midblock with Austin joining Scriven up top. Here Austin looked to drift into the channels to receive in the pockets and look to create by combining with the winger and/ or striker.In the second half, Kenya came out looking to push momentum to their side, Austin was now staying higher up the pitch as the build-up shifted into a 2-4-4.Why FKF is poised to sack coach Engin FiratAs the game wore on, both sides looked to avoid defeat as coach Firat made some changes, taking off attacker Avire for right-back Daniel Sakari, this shifted Duke over to the left-hand side as Sakari now played as the right winger.In central attacking midfield Austin was hooked off for combative midfielder Marvin Nabwire with Duke Abuya paving way for Abud Omar. These changes saw Kenya morph into a defensive 4-5-1 formation, soaking the final pressure from Namibia.The game, which saw Kenya finish without an attempt on goal summed up what has been a drab qualifier for the nation. Finishing third in the group on six points, having won one game drawn three and lost two. Scoring four goals and conceding seven.
