Harambee Stars coach Engin Firat acknowledges that the team faces an uphill battle to qualify for the 2025 AFCON following consecutive defeats to Cameroon in their October international break fixtures.Kenya lost 4-1 in Yaoundé on Friday, followed by a 1-0 defeat to the Indomitable Lions in Uganda on Monday.These setbacks coincided with Zimbabwe’s back-to-back victories over Namibia, which took the Warriors points tally to eight, putting them in a strong position to join Cameroon, who lead the group with ten points, in next year’s AFCON.##NAJAVA_MECA_8412761##After the losses, Firat admitted that Kenya’s qualification hopes are now precarious.He emphasized that winning their remaining matches against Zimbabwe and Namibia next month is crucial.“For our final two matches, we have to go out and win. We have no other option. We cannot take things for granted because this group is tough,” Firat remarked.Engin Firat reveals why Harambee Stars lost to CameroonReflecting on the group’s dynamics, Firat noted that while he had expected a challenging campaign, Namibia’s winless run was unexpected.“Earlier, I said this group would go down to the wire, but what we didn’t anticipate was Namibia losing all their matches. That has been a bit surprising,” he said.Kenyan players raised concerns about the officiating during the return leg in Uganda, particularly the refereeing decisions that seemed to favor Cameroon.Firat, clearly frustrated, expressed his displeasure. “What can I say?” he responded. “Do you think this will change anytime soon? It’s always the same – they don’t care.”AFCON2025Q:Substitute Enow Takang sinks Harambee Stars in UgandaOn the performance against the Indomitable Lions, Firat admitted that the result was disheartening, especially considering Kenya’s strong performance. “Disappointing is the word that sums up the post-match feeling. After the first leg, we wanted to show that we can play football, and I think we had more than enough chances today. But no one gives you points for good football. It’s disappointing for the players that, despite their efforts, we got nothing from the game,” he said.Firat will now shift his focus to the CHAN qualifiers, set for later this month.
