Heartbreak for Kenya as Odada skies his shot in penalties loss to Estonia
Harambee Stars forward Ryan Ogam juggles the ball during a training session in Kigali on March 25, 2026 ahead of their 2026 Fifa Series match against Estonia on March 27, 2026.
What you need to know:
- The blooper tainted Odada’s return to the national team after he had missed Harambee Stars’ five previous matches.
- It was Kenya’s third ever match against a European nation after encounters with Switzerland against whom Kenya drew 0-0 in 1983.
Harambee Stars marked their debut in the Fifa Series against Estonia on Friday night at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda, with the return of a pleasantly familiar sight and penalty shootout heartbreak.
Ryan Ogam, who plies his trade for AC Wolfsberger in Austria, ended a three-match goal drought for Harambee Stars as Kenya drew 1-1 with the northern European country in what was the first ever meeting between the two countries.
It was Kenya’s third ever match against a European nation after encounters with Switzerland against whom Kenya drew 0-0 in 1983, and Russia with whom Harambee Stars drew 2-2 in 2023.
However, it was Estonia’s who progressed to the final on Friday after winning the penalty shootout 5-4 in sudden death. Estonia will play the winner of the match between Rwanda and Grenada on Monday at 10pm at the Amahoro Stadium.
The loser of the latter match will meet Harambee Stars in the third-place play-off which will be played on the same venue on the same day at 7pm.
Harambee Stars had dominated Friday's encounter but trailed 1-0 at halftime after the Estonians had taken the lead in the 21st minute through debutant Tanel Tammik.
Tammik punished a static Harambee Stars defence as he rushed into the box to head Kevor Palumets’ corner past Ian Otieno. Otieno, who plays for South African club Richards Bay, was making his first appearance for Harambee Stars since March 2025.
Real Sociedad winger Job Ochieng’ had a chance to equalise for Harambee Stars but his tame shot was easily saved by Estonia goalkeeper Karl Vallner. Ochieng’ was later substituted in the 41st minute by Ben Stanley Omondi after he was forced off with injury.
Ogam drew Harambee Stars level in the 51st minute with his seventh goal in 12 appearances for Harambee Stars.
Squandered chances
It was an exquisite finish as he chipped the ball over Vallner with his weaker right foot after being put through on goal by Tranmere Rovers midfielder Zech Obiero.
The English-born Obiero was making his national team debut after getting his Kenyan passport this week following his change of nationality.
Ogam’s goal also meant he has scored five of Harambee Stars’ last eight goals, including the previous one in the 1-0 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifier away win over Burundi in October 2025.
The match went to penalties after Harambee Stars squandered chances to snatch victory. Substitute Lawrence Okoth would have killed the contest in the dying minutes but he scythed his shot from a Ben Stanley Omondi cutback narrowly wide.
Estonia went first in the 12-yard lottery, taking the lead through Erko Tougjas. Substitute Austine Odhiambo drew Kenya level before Ian Otieno saved Ioan Yakovlev’s penalty.
However, Otieno’s save did not amount to an advantage for Harambee Stars as Mohamed Bajaber, who replaced Ogam in the 87th minute, had his tame effort easily saved by Vallner.
Lawrence Okoth, Chrispine Erambo, and Ben Stanley Omondi matched the efficiency of their Estonian counterparts after that, hence forcing sudden death, which came too soon for Harambee Stars.
After Markus Soomets put Estonia 6-5 up, Harambee Stars’ jersey number six Richard Odada, who was wearing the armband following Abud Omar’s substitution in the 65th minute, missed Kenya’s sixth kick as he duffed his panenka, chipping the ball over the bar.
The blooper tainted Odada’s return to the national team after he had missed Harambee Stars’ five previous matches.
