Youth Affairs and Sports Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has sent a message to Harambee Stars after falling 1-0 to Cameroon at the Mandela National Stadium in Namboole, Uganda.
In a statement on Monday, October 14, the CS stated that despite losing the game, there is much to fight for in the upcoming matches.
"To Harambee Stars, we may have fallen 1-0 to Cameroon today, but our AFCON journey is far from over. There are many positives we can take from this match for our next game.
"With 1 win, 1 draw, and 2 losses, there’s still much to fight for. On to the next tie in November, unbowed. Great effort here, guys," Murkomen said.
In the return match, substitute Boris Enow scored a stunning free-kick to secure Cameroon's victory, sealing their spot in the AFCON finals.
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Despite a better performance, Harambee Stars couldn't find the net.
The defeat came days after Harambee Stars faced Cameroon in Yaoundé, suffering a heavy 4-1 defeat in the AFCON qualifiers.
Captain Vincent Aboubakar opened the scoring with a penalty, followed by goals from Martin Hongla, Bryan Mbeumo, and Christian Bassogog.
Michael Olunga scored Kenya's only goal.
The 2025 AFCON qualifiers are currently underway, featuring 48 teams competing for a spot in the tournament scheduled in Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
The qualifying format includes 12 groups of four teams each, with matches taking place across three international windows, September, October, and November 2024.
As of now, Morocco has automatically qualified as hosts, while the top two teams from each group will join them in the final tournament.
Notable early results include Morocco's strong performances, winning all three of their initial matches, and surprising outcomes like Tunisia's narrow victory over Madagascar and a shocking loss to Comoros.
The qualifiers are characterized by a compressed schedule due to clashes with other international events, making each match critical for teams aiming for qualification.
The final matchday is set for November 19, 2024, after which the qualified teams will be finalized.
