Harambee Stars head coach Engin Firat maintains that his team has a realistic chance of qualifying for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco. Firat, while reacting to the draw conducted on Thursday, expressed confidence in guiding Stars to return to the continental showpiece after missing the past two editions. Kenya is placed in Group J alongside; five-time champions and the 2021 edition hosts Cameroon, Zimbabwe and Namibia. ##NAJAVA_MECA_8191715##Interestingly, Kenya was to face both Cameroon and Namibia in the qualifiers for the 2023 edition but that didn’t happen thanks to the former being placed under FIFA suspension. Firat, who jetted back to Kenya on Thursday night with the Emerging Stars from South Africa, says Kenya has what it takes to finish in the top two bracket in the pool and book a flight to Morocco. Despite conceding and terming Stars’ opponents in the pool tough, the Turkish trainer insisted that inspiring Kenya back to the biannual tournament was top in his priority list.’Kenya has good chance of qualifying for 2025 AFCON’ – Ambani reacts to draw”Its a tough group made up of good teams. It’s balanced and every team therein is strong. All teams stand an equal chance of qualifying and therefore it will be a tough race. As I said from the beginning, it doesn’t matter whom we are pitted against, our aim remains going to the AFCON, ” he told Mozzart Sport. Kenya is set to launch its qualification campaign in September, with home matches likely to be hosted outside the country.Mozzart Sport understands that there have been efforts to re-inspect the Nyayo National Stadium with a view of having the facility cleared to host the qualifiers. Kenya hosted two of its World Cup qualifier matches against Burundi and Ivory Coast in Malawi due to lack of a FIFA accredited stadium at the moment. On facing the now familiar Zimbabwe team, Firat, says much as the Warriors have plummeted on the FIFA rankings, they are good and ambitious enough to go neck and neck with Harambee Stars. “They have dropped a lot in FIFA rankings but they are strong,” he added. Harambee Stars land favourable draw in 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiersKenya last appeared at the AFCON during the 2019 finals hosted in Egypt. A failed qualification campaign for the 2021 campaign saw Kenya miss the subsequent edition with FIFA suspension barring the team from contesting for a slot in last year’s finals.
