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Harambee Stars lose friendly match to Equatorial Guinea
Harambee Stars squad members (from left) Baron Ochieng, Vicky Kiera (kit manager), Aldrian Kibet and Lawrence Ouma before a training session at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi.
What you need to know:
- Kenya started the better side, pressing high and creating early chances, but they struggled to convert them into goals.
- On the other hand, Equatorial Guinea sat deep, absorbed the pressure, while attempting to capitalize on set pieces.
Harambee Stars fell 1-0 to Equatorial Guinea on Friday evening at Emir Complex Stadium in Antalya, Turkey in an international friendly match.
Striker Jose Miranda scored the winner from the spot in the 44th minute of the match after Harambee Stars defender Rooney Onyango had fouled him just inside the box.
Harambee Stars coach, Bennie McCarthy, started Byrne Omondi in goal, shielded by Onyango, Michael Kibwage, Sylvester Owino and Kevin Otiende.
Captain Duke Abuya, Marvin Nabwire, Boniface Michiri and William Lenkupae took charge of the midfield, with Ryan Ogam and Jonah Ayunga leading the attack. Kenya started the better side, pressing high and creating early chances, but they struggled to convert them into goals.
On the other hand, Equatorial Guinea sat deep, absorbed the pressure, while attempting to capitalize on set pieces.
In the second half, Kenya sought to draw level, and introduced fresh pair of legs in Ovella Ochieng and Austin Odhiambo for Lenkuape and Muchiri but the final third let the team down..
Kenya also made changes in the back line, bringing in Alphonce Omija for Kibwage, and introduced midfielder Aldrine Kibet for Nabwire.
Harambee Stars players during a training session at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi.
The match was played at Emir Complex Stadium in Turkish resort city of Antalya.
The match is the first of two friendlies that Kenya had lined up Turkey, both to be played during Fifa international break between November 10 and 18.
On Tuesday, Kenya will play Senegal in a second friendly match at Mardan Stadium. The two matches have replaced another two that Kenya had lined up against Madagascar and Comoros.
Equatorial Guinea and Senegal are using the friendly matches to prepare for 2025 Afcon, which will be held in Morocco from December 21, 2025 to January 27, 2026.
Senegal, coached by Pape Thiaw, play Brazil in another friendly match at Emirates Stadium in London on Saturday. Senegal’s squad boasts stars, among them former Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, former Liverpool striker Sadio Mane, Nicolas Jackson who is on loan at Bayern Munich from Chelsea, and former Chelsea striker Kalidou Koulibaly.
Equatorial Guinea is in Group 'E' of 2025 Afcon alongside Algeria, Burkina Faso, and Sudan, while Senegal is in Group 'D' along with the Democratic Republic of Congo, Benin, and Botswana.
Kenya did not qualify for 2025 Afcon tournament, having finished third in Group 'J' with six points behind leaders Cameroon and second-placed Zimbabwe. Kenya is now focusing on preparations for 2027 Afcon, which the country will co-host with Uganda, and Tanzania.
