Kenya men’s national football team Harambee Stars will not be playing in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco after failing to pick maximum points against a resolute Zimbabwe in a crucial qualifying fixture played at a lively Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, South Africa.Engin Firat’s men, with backs against the wall, needed to pick six points from their final two Group J games, but in the midst of fan pressure, buckled down to a highly entertaining 1-1 draw.FT🇿🇼 1-1 🇰🇪#HarambeeStars pic.twitter.com/mdEI3RuSJV— Harambee Stars (@Harambee__Stars) November 15, 2024 Tawanda Maswanhise gave the ‘hosts a first-half lead before Jonah Ayunga grabbed his debut goal with an equalizer at the start of the second period.A point – one celebrated by a boisterous Zimbabwe support – means that the Warriors will make the biennial continental tournament, with Kenya, once again, falling flat on their faces with a game against Namibia still left to play.##NAJAVA_MECA_8501760##Match ReportIt was the visitors in enemy territory that threatened early when skipper Michael Olunga pounced on a teen-ish mistake from Teenage Hadebe, only for keeper Marley Tavaziva to smother away.As if testing the nerves of the travelling support, Zimbabwe started slowly here but always had the odd chance up front.Walter Musona probably had the biggest chance of the first half when he blasted a cut-back from the industrious Khama Billiat straight into the desperate knees of Bryne Odhiambo.A look at FKF county elections results as team blue leadsWithout much happening on the offensive side of the ball for Kenya, Olunga could be seen urging his teammates to spread play to the wings, rather than the occasional punt that missed him anyway.Zimbabwe vs Kenya LIVE: Ayunga’s goal not enough as Kenya misses 2025 AFCON slotLeft-back playing as a winger Eric Ouma seemed to have heard the call, only that his product was a wayward cross that got boos from the Zimbabwe party.Two yellow cards were then shown to Abud Omar and Johnstone Omurwa as they all retreated but soon gave in to stop a cunning Tawanda Maswanhise.The freekick on the edge of the box was however deflected out for a goal-kick, keeping in with Rooney Onyango’s furious attempt to keep the scores level with a proper chance minutes later.The goal wasn’t screaming, but it soon came shortly after the hour-mark when Tawanda found space on the right, shimmied, and then turned in a Billiat layoff to a beautiful goal into the bottom corner.##NAJAVA_MECA_8501760##Little-endearing Kenya would carry the deficit going into the half, as Firat, not for the first time, undid his first-half mess by bringing on Duke Abuya for Omar, with Charles Momanyi coming on for an injured Joseph Okumu.And just like the Zimbabwe goal, Kenya’s also bore no invitation, as target-man Ayunga took advantage of a goalline needle to poke home an equalizer.The riveting contest paling in contrast to the first-leg barren draw between the two sides in Uganda was nowhere close to the end however, as the conspicuous orange boots of Omurwa were called into action – and one meant to stop a Zimbabwe all-out attack from the wings.Mara Sugar cuts ties with technical directorThe tall defender was surprisingly also the man behind a Daniel Anyembe corner, nodding his corner wide with quarter an hour to go.Helter-skelter soon turned into the name of the game; the once loud Zimbabwe contingent in the stands celebrating and clapping every effort that they repelled.AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS – QUALIFIERSWednesday Namibia – Cameroon 0-0Liberia – Togo 1-0 (0-0)/Sangare 83 pen/Chad – Sierra Leone 1-1 (1-1)/Thiam 34 pen – Dumbuya 29/Thursday Equatorial Guinea – Algeria 0-0Lesotho – Central African Republic 1-0 (0-0)/Mokhachane 51/South Sudan – Congo 3-2 (2-2)/Ezibon 31, 45+2, Elly 84 – Ibayi 26, 35/Burundi – Malawi 0-0Madagascar – Tunisia 2-3 (2-2)/Memmiche 20 og, Amada 45+3 – Rafia 6, Ltaief 39, Abdi 90+3/Rwanda – Libya 0-1 (0-0)/Saad Mohamed 84/Niger – Sudan 4-0 (3-0)/Sosah 6, 45+3 pen, Oumarou 29, Badamassi 51/Benin – Nigeria 1-1 (1-0)/Tijani 16 – Osimhen 81/Burkina Faso – Senegal 0-1 (0-0)/Diarra 83/Friday Botswana – Mauritania 1-1 (1-1)/Baruti 18 – Koita 7/Uganda – S.Africa 0-2 (0-0)/Morena 49, Maswanganyi 89/Cape Verde – Egypt 1-1 (0-1)/Mendes 63 pen – Mohamed 31/Eswatini – Guinea B. 1-0 (0-0)/Mkhontfo 81/Mozambique – Mali 0-1 (0-1)/Doumbia 19/Zambia – Ivory Coast 1-0 (1-0)/Musonda 43/Zimbabwe – Kenya 1-1 (1-0)/Maswanhise 32 – Ayunga 52/22.00: (3.20) Angola (3.10) Ghana (2.40)22.00: (5.40) Gabon (3.50) Morocco (1.72)Saturday 19.00: (3.30) Ethiopia (2.75) Tanzania (2.45)22.00: (2.45) Guinea (3.10) Dr Congo (3.15)***odds are subject to change***—————————————————————UEFA NATIONS LEAGUE – GROUP STAGEDivision AThursday Belgium – Italy 0-1 (0-1)/Tonali 11/France – Israel 0-0Friday 22.45: (4.70) Denmark (3.50) Spain (1.80)22.45: (1.27) Portugal (5.90) Poland (10.5)22.45: (3.40) Scotland (3.40) Croatia (2.15)22.45: (1.85) Switzerland (3.60) Serbia (4.80)Saturday 22.45: (1.15) Germany (8.00) B&H (16.0)22.45: (1.40) Netherlands (4.70) Hungary (8.00)Sunday 22.45: (3.40) Italy (3.35) France (2.30)Division BThursday Kazakhstan – Austria 0-2 (0-2)/Baumgartner 15, Gregoritsch 25/Greece – England 0-3 (0-1)/Watkins 7, Vlachodimos 78 og, Jones 83/R.Ireland – Finland 1-0 (1-0)/Ferguson 45/Slovenia – Norway 1-4 (1-2)/Sesko 21 pen – Nusa 4, 59, Haaland 45, Hauge 82/Saturday 20.00: (2.50) Georgia (3.25) Ukraine (2.90)20.00: (2.50) Montenegro (3.25) Iceland (2.90)20.00: (1.77) Turkey (3.50) Wales (4.90)22.45: (3.20) Albania (3.30) Czech R. (2.30)Sunday 20.00: (1.22) England (6.25) R.Ireland (14.0)***odds are subject to change***On the other end, a Kenyan side that had pursued but run its course.
