In the end, it all played out just as we expected.Perhaps not to all Kenyans hoping for their national football team to make a first return to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) since 2019, but to head coach Engin Firat and his battery of assistants.That was his immediate thought when probed on his view of a 1-1 draw against Zimbabwe on Friday, 15 November evening, ending Kenya’s fading chances of a trip to the biennial continental tournament.Zimbabwe vs Kenya Player Ratings: Ayunga, Omurwa shine as Harambee Stars face elimination from AFCON qualification”The game played out as we expected,” a dazzled Firat told the press post-match at the Peter Mokaba Stadium. “Zimbabwe, as we knew, first stayed deep, playing long balls to their fast players on counterattacks.He continued, “I think both sides gave a big fight, but it’s like a red line for us that we don’t use our goal chances and are also injured like we saw with Joseph Okumu today.”On the former point, he went further; “It’s clear that we have a goal-scoring problem that we need to find a solution to if we are to move up to a higher level. I wish we could have solved the problem better earlier, but we couldn’t change it.”Harambee Stars coach Engin Firat has to go, he’s just not good enough. Three competitive wins in three years is unacceptable. #TeamKenya pic.twitter.com/SWWEzwBwj3— Ole Teya (@TeyaKevin) November 15, 2024 And in words that could be soon used against him, he added; “There is nothing I can say to the boys. They tried everything till the last second. They deserved more. In the end, this is football and you can’t change everything.”On his feelings towards not delivering on what he promised, he said; “I can understand the frustration that comes with that back home as we wanted to go there. As I said, there’s nothing I can say about the players who did their best.”Add in the famous Firat ingredient; “But for us maybe we have to realize what we have and stop dreaming. We know about the many times I have had a problem with our football. It’s even getting worse. We need to look at reality and instead of all we want, ask with what. Things on the outside can always change, but our record in this tournament explains everything.”##NAJAVA_MECA_8501761##AFCONq: Atlas Lions rip Panthers apart for a perfect group win!
