Harambee Stars face a daunting challenge as they take on Cameroon in a 2025 AFCON Group J return-leg clash at Mandela Stadium, Namboole, this afternoon, starting at 4 PM.This follows the first leg, played on Friday in Yaoundé, Cameroon, where Kenya suffered a 4-1 defeat against the five-time African champions. Both teams will be eager to secure maximum points in this match. A win for Cameroon will put them on the verge of AFCON qualification, while a victory for Kenya would keep their qualification hopes alive.##NAJAVA_MECA_8412057##Kenya’s struggles in the first leg were largely self-inflicted. The first goal came from a penalty, while the second and fourth were due to goalkeeping errors. Monday’s match serves as a redemption opportunity for Kenya, with coach Engin Firat expected to make some changes. The most notable is the anticipated inclusion of Bryne Omondi in goal, replacing Patrick Matasi, who had a poor outing in Yaoundé.The match will be played in an empty stadium, as Kenya opted not to allow fans inside, fearing that Ugandan supporters might attend to cheer for Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana and Cameroon, similar to what happened during a previous match against Zimbabwe.Harambee Stars also have injury concerns. Captain Michael Olunga missed the final training session on Sunday due to a hamstring issue. Additionally, Johnstone Omurwa, Joseph Okumu, and Alphonce Omija are all doubtful for the match with injuries. Last evening, coach Firat said he would make last-minute decisions regarding the lineup.Harambee Stars train at the Namboole Stadium in Uganda ahead of tomorrow’s game against Cameroon.Kenya lost 4-1 in the first leg played in Cameroon on Friday. #TeamKenya pic.twitter.com/DYKfvZIl5h— Mozzart Sport Kenya (@MozzartSportKe) October 13, 2024 “We have a serious issue with Olunga. He can only do light warm-ups due to his hamstring problem. I’ll have to make a last-minute decision tomorrow as there are many uncertainties,” said the Turkish coach.”We didn’t want to play Okumu because of his injury, and Omija and Omurwa are still not 100%. However, there’s a chance they could be fit for the match,” Firat added.Cameroon coach Brys urges caution ahead of AFCON qualifier against KenyaCameroon head coach Marc Brys remains cautious, acknowledging that Kenya posed some challenges in the first leg.”There is always a risk after a strong performance,” Brys noted. “Kenya is a good team and showed quality in the first match. They had some good moments, so it would be foolish to underestimate them.””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 added.Gor Mahia Coach Martins Neiva remain mum on Rooney Onyango’s situation
