Harambee Stars should summon Fabsich’s spirit

harambee stars is on the brink of face Cameroon in Group J of the 2025 AFCON qualifiers this month. It’s a important stage throughout the qualification course of, with the two sides set to play two matches over three days—video video games that may in all probability determine the group’s remaining standings. Kenya needs not lower than 4 components from these encounters to secure a qualification spot.

Every nations in the intervening time sit on the excessive of the group, with Kenya ahead on targets scored—two compared with Cameroon’s one—nonetheless tied on 4 components with a +1 goal distinction. The very best two teams will qualify instantly for AFCON, whereas the other nations throughout the group, Zimbabwe and Namibia, will battle to stay in rivalry.

Cameroon’s establish is derived from the Wouri River, which Portuguese explorers throughout the fifteenth century renamed Rio dos Camarões (“River of Prawns”). Within the meantime, Kenya supposedly purchased its establish from Mt. Kirinyaga, which the Kamba people known as “Kinyaa”—which means ostrich—on account of the snowcapped mountain resembled the hen. So, this match is between “prawns” and “ostriches,” though every teams now seek the advice of with themselves as a result of the Indomitable Lions and Harambee Stars, respectively.

Cameroon is a Francophone nation, nevertheless it absolutely was first a German protectorate until World Battle I. After the battle, the territory was divided into French and British protectorates, with the British taking the realm bordering Nigeria. In 1961, a referendum led to the northern part of the British protectorate changing into a member of Nigeria, whereas the southern half opted to stick with Francophone Cameroon. Economically, Kenya’s GDP ranks seventh in Africa, whereas Cameroon sits at fifteenth. About 60% of Cameroonians reside in metropolis areas, compared with 30% of Kenyans. On the soccer topic, nonetheless, Cameroon persistently outranks Kenya.

All through the 1990 World Cup qualifiers for Italy, the eight highest-ranked teams in Africa, in accordance with FIFA, included Ivory Coast, Algeria, Cameroon, Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, and Zaire. These teams bypassed the first spherical of qualifiers. Cameroon went on to reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup. For the 2025 AFCON qualifiers, Cameroon is ranked ninth in Africa, whereas Kenya is twenty sixth, reflecting a decline in Kenya’s soccer standing on the continent.

Kenya first confronted Cameroon throughout the 1972 AFCON, which was hosted by Cameroon. Kenya drew 1-1 with Togo and Mali nonetheless misplaced 2-1 to the hosts throughout the opening match. Jonathan Niva, who was every captain and coach, scored Kenya’s consolation goal—moreover Kenya’s first-ever AFCON goal.

Kenya hosted Cameroon on July 1, 1984, in Nairobi, dropping 3-1. That exact same yr, Cameroon obtained their first AFCON title in Ivory Coast after defeating Nigeria 3-1 throughout the remaining. In 1986, Cameroon misplaced the AFCON remaining to Egypt in Cairo by post-match penalties. The two sides met as soon as extra throughout the 1987 All Africa Video video games, the place they carried out to an thrilling 3-3 draw, though Kenya later misplaced the final word to Egypt. Cameroon was coached by Frenchman Claude Le Roy, whereas Kenya’s technical bench was led by Reinhard Fabisch.

Throughout the 1988 AFCON, hosted by Morocco, Kenya was grouped with Cameroon, Nigeria, and Egypt. The Harambee Stars confronted Cameroon on March 20, with the match ending in a scoreless draw. Cameroon and Nigeria superior to the knockout stage, whereas Kenya and Egypt had been eradicated. The teams met as soon as extra throughout the 1990 AFCON in Algeria, the place Kenya misplaced 2-0 to Cameroon.

Kenya and Cameroon had been positioned in Group 5 of the 1998 AFCON qualifiers, alongside Gabon and Namibia. Kenya held the Indomitable Lions—who boasted players like Misse Misse, Alphonse Tchami, Pierre Wome, Jeremi Njitap, Raymond Kalla, Solomon Olembe, and Marc-Vivien Foé—to a 0-0 appeal to Nairobi. It was a formidable Cameroonian side, nonetheless Harambee Stars, beneath the late Reinhard Fabisch, stood their flooring, with notable performances from Francis Onyiso, Seif Mutie, Ken Simiyu, and others.