Harambee Stars coach Engin Firat has explained why Kenya has chosen to host Cameroon in an empty stadium in Uganda for their AFCON qualification match on Monday 14 October at Namboole Stadium. The game will be held in Uganda because Kenya lacks a CAF-certified stadium. In September, Kenya also hosted Zimbabwe in Uganda, a match that ended in a 0-0 draw, before defeating Namibia 2-1 in South Africa.##NAJAVA_MECA_8399184##The matches against Cameroon will be played three days apart. The first leg will take place on November 11 in Douala, Cameroon, with the return leg scheduled for Monday in Uganda. Last week, FKF announced that the Uganda match would be played behind closed doors, with only a limited number of journalists allowed to attend.Firat explained the decision to play without fans, citing security concerns from a recent match. When Zimbabwe hosted Cameroon at Namboole Stadium last month, many Manchester United fans showed up to support goalkeeper Andre Onana, effectively backing the Cameroon team and Firat wants to avoid a similar situation where the host nation’s fans cheer for Kenya’s opponents.“A lot happened when Zimbabwe played Cameroon in Uganda. There were security issues, and you saw the support Onana and Cameroon got in Uganda,” Firat said. “It doesn’t make sense to have that again—it’s a simple decision.”Harambee Stars’ social media gaffe about FKF CEO 24-hours after resignationHe also highlighted the progress the Harambee Stars have made, noting that the team remains unbeaten in 2024. “This year has been a process. We’ve gone seven matches without losing, which is rare for Kenya, and we’ve also won a trophy abroad,” he added.Speaking about the double-header against Cameroon, Firat said these matches would be a key test for Kenya’s AFCON ambitions. He believes his team is prepared, but acknowledges the difficulty of facing the Indomitable Lions. “We know it will be tough, but we’re at a level where details will decide the outcome. It won’t be easy for Cameroon, even if they have no missing players,” he said.Firat mentioned that although Kenya has only a few players unavailable due to injuries, this has made it hard to maintain consistency in the lineup. He also emphasized the mental toll of not playing at home for a long time.“These two games will show us if we’re ready for AFCON, especially what we can do in the group stage,” he concluded.Harambee Stars are set to depart for Cameroon tomorrow.Sofapaka head coach Robert Matano addresses links to Tanzanian club
