Cameroon head coach Marc Brys has dismissed the favorites tag and emphasized that his team will approach their AFCON 2025 qualification second-leg clash against Kenya with respect when the two sides meet at Mandela Stadium, Namboole, on Monday afternoon.This encounter comes just three days after Cameroon’s commanding 4-1 victory over Kenya in Yaoundé, a game the Harambee Stars will want to quickly forget as both teams aim to secure crucial points in Uganda on Monday.##NAJAVA_MECA_8412057##Cameroon currently leads Group J with seven points, closing in on qualification for the biannual tournament. Zimbabwe is second with five points, followed by Kenya in third with four points, while Namibia remains pointless.Despite Cameroon being considered clear favorites for Monday’s game, Brys downplayed this assumption. Speaking ahead of his team’s final training session at Namboole, he highlighted the challenges of facing the same opponent after a win, noting that Kenya had positive moments in the first leg.”There is always a risk after a strong performance,” Brys stated. “Kenya is a good team, and they showed quality in the first match, they had some good moments. It would be foolish to underestimate them.”Harambee Stars captain Olunga doubtful for Cameroon clashBrys also acknowledged the pressure on his team to deliver, as they carry the hopes of their nation. However, he believes his squad is ready to embrace the expectations of representing the five-time African champions.“We are very humble in our approach. Every game is an opportunity to give our best. With 30 million Cameroonians behind us, there’s a lot of responsibility. We accept the pressure and aim to perform at our highest level,” he said.Monday’s match will be played behind closed doors, a decision made at the request of Kenya coach Engin Firat, who feared a local crowd might rally behind Cameroon, as was the case when Zimbabwe hosted the Indomitable Lions in Uganda. Brys admitted that the absence of fans could impact his players.”Playing in an empty stadium does affect you. Fans provide motivation and energy. Without them, it’s not the same—players have to find that drive within themselves,” he concluded.Firat speaks on Matasi’s errors against Cameroon
