Football
Exclusive: Ex-international Elijah Onsika Warns Kenya as Engin Firat vows positive AFCON start
Former Kenyan striker Elijah Onsika emphasizes the importance of respecting opponents as Kenya kicks off their 2025 AFCON qualifiers against Zimbabwe.
Image Credits: Nation
Former Kenyan striker Elijah Onsika has cautioned Harambee Stars to have respect for their opponents as they kick off their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers with a fixture against Zimbabwe on Friday, August 6.
Harambee Stars will launch their journey for a seventh appearance in the AFCON tournament with a Group J fixture against the Warriors at Mandela Stadium in Uganda before they proceed for matchday two away in South Africa against Namibia at Orlando Stadium on Tuesday, September 10.
Kenya’s other opponent is Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions, who will start their campaign against Namibia at Japoma Stadium on Saturday, September 7.
Kenya Must Have Respect for All Their Opponents
According to Onsika, who played for Kenya in the late 80s and 90s, Kenya must approach every match in the qualifiers with utmost respect for their rivals adding any move to underrate them could turn tragic in the qualification campaign.
“We don’t have an easy team in our group, every team deserves to be in the group and every team is preparing and working hard to get a good start with an eye on sealing the qualification ticket to 2025 AFCON in Morocco,” Onsika told SportsBoom.com.
“It is the reason our players must not underrate any opponent, we must give every opponent their respect and work our ways to win matches, with respect and determination, Kenya can easily make it from the group.”
Onsika further believes if Kenya win all their home matches and strive to get a draw in the away fixtures, they will stand a chance to grace the tournament in the North African nation.
“It is very simple, Kenya must collect maximum points from their three home matches, they must know winning at home will give them nine points, so if they go away and get a draw from the three, then that will be 12 points, that is more than enough to secure qualification,” offered Onsika.
However, Kenya will play their home matches away from home as they have secured a Mandela Stadium in Uganda following the decision by the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) to order the closure of Nyayo Stadium for renovation.
Nyayo is among the venues that have been shortlisted by the African body to co-host the African Nations Championships (CHAN) and the 2027 AFCON.
We are lucky that Football Kenya Federation (FKF) managed to secure a venue in Uganda, that is close to home, it is like playing at home, and I know many fans will travel to cheer on the team, and it is the reason players should take the game against Zimbabwe with a lot of seriousness.
Elijah Onsika
Onsika continued: “A win in the opener will be great, it will boost the morale of the players, it will help reduce the pressure on the players, and I believe our current squad have the capability to perform well.”
Asked which team could provide headache for Kenya, Onsika, who handled the U20 team to the Council of East and Central Africa (CECAFA) tournament in Zanzibar in 1997, said: “I do not have doubts concerning Harambee Stars making it to Morocco but my only worry is Cameroon because they have a strong squad of experienced players and have done well in the biggest stage than us before, but with football you cannot predict the outcome easily, Cameroon may be favourites but with good preparations, Kenya can carry the day, even win against them home and away.”
Engin Firat Outlines Game Plan to See Kenya at AFCON
Harambee Stars head coach Engin Firat has promised a strong start in the qualifiers saying Kenya’s plan is to strive not to lose to their opponents.
“People have to understand it is not important what we do in the first two matches, the important thing is how many points we have in the last match, so the rest is not so important,” Firat told SportsBoom.com.
“We are planning these. Sometimes it is important not to lose especially in this group where all the teams are close to each other, all of them have a strong squad, if you don’t lose it means your rival doesn’t get three points.”
The Turkish tactician, however, bemoaned injuries that had denied him the chance to have his full squad for recent matches. Striker Michael Olunga is among the players, who are doubtful to face Zimbabwe after picking an injury during a Qatar Stars League fixture for Al Duhail SC.
Image Credits: Africa Top Sports
Other players out injured include Daniel Anyembe, who plays as a right-back for Danish Superliga club Viborg FF, Bristol City defender Zak Vyner, and Collins Sichenje, who features for Serbian SuperLiga club Vojvodina, on loan from Swedish side AIK.
“Our problem in all this time is that we have never had the chance to play with our main players, you know, all the time we change the team because of injuries or other problems so I would want one time to see the full squad together playing,” offered Firat.
“I cannot really say 100 percent how strong we are but what I know exactly is about the boys who are here (in camp), and I know they will fight for every second and we will try our best, so we are still hopefully because it is not about two matches, it is six matches, so we hope that in October or November we have all squad together, you never know.”
The former Moldovia tactician concluded: “It is very important for the last two matches in mid-November, if everything is in our hands, and this is what we want to do, we are optimistic of going to the AFCON in Morocco.”
Harambee Stars will head into the Warriors fixture boosting a good record against the West African side. In the last four matches in all competitions, Kenya are yet to lose against Zimbabwe, winning three times and drawing once.
In 2008 during a World Cup qualifier, Kenya beat Zimbabwe 2-0 in the group fixture at Nyayo Stadium with Macdonald Mariga and Denns Oliech finding the back of the net.
The reverse meeting in Harare produced a 0-0 result. In 2024, the two sides met again in the final of a Four-Nation tournament at the Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe, Malawi with Kenya emerging 3-1 winners’ courtesy of a hat-trick from Olunga.
The last meeting came during the 2024 edition of the COSAFA Cup where Kenya participated as a guest team, and they went on to beat Zimbabwe 2-0. Kenya’s goals came in the second half courtesy of Benson Omalla and Austin Odhiambo.
Kenya’s last appearance in the AFCON was in 2019 in Egypt, where they failed to qualify past the group stage.
Dennis is a seasoned journalist in Kenya with over 18 years of experience. Having started his career at Kenya Times Newspaper, Dennis worked for Standard Newspaper for nearly six years as a Sports Writer. At Standard, he was privileged to cover Kenya's national team Harambee Stars outside the country, the biggest of all being the Four Nations tournament in Cairo, Egypt. He also covered the U17 team in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.