Kenya men’s national football side – Harambee Stars – probably validated their argument about lack of proper preparations after falling 2-0 to South Sudan in the first leg of the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) first-round qualifiers played at the Juba National Stadium.Arming themselves with just two practice sessions, and with the assurance that their place in the main tournament is secure, Engin Firat’s men couldn’t handle the pressure from the Bright Stars, going down to two second-half goals from Ezibon Malish and Yohanna Paulino.##NAJAVA_MECA_8445527##The writing was on the wall for Harambee Stars a day before the game when Firat, who is now on a three-game losing streak, said that the game on Sunday felt “like a friendly with no pressure.”And if a tad leggy from a “demanding schedule” was an understatement, Kenya’s first-half performance spoke volumes, with a blocked Austine Odhiambo freekick from the right presenting the visitors their only worthy go at goal.Engin Firat admits Harambee Stars are ill prepared for CHAN qualifier against South SudanThe second-period wasn’t any better for Kenya, as South Sudan took the lead five minutes after the break through a towering header from left winger Ezbon, before the team’s striker Yohanna added a second in the 68th minute.With Kenya providing no response, Kenya is now left with a tall mountain to climb when the two nations face off in the second-leg next weekend, but also carrying the tag of losing to a nation ranked 66 places below them twice in a span of an year.Goal-scoring Homeboyz defender keen on following footsteps of his roommate after landing Harambee Stars callThe second-leg will be played at the Mandela National Stadium in Uganda on Sunday 3 November from 1600 EAT.The winner on aggregate will book a place in the second-round of qualifiers, where they will face either Rwanda or Djibouti.
