Kenya’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier showdown with Namibia could see them without some players due to injury and suspension, leaving manager Engin Firat in a state of uncertainty. The Harambee Stars are particularly affected by injuries, with three key players potentially missing the match on Tuesday.
These include Amos Nondi, unavailable due to suspension, and captain Michael Olunga alongside his assistant, Joseph Okumu, who suffered injuries during the previous game against Zimbabwe last week. While Olunga’s return to training remains uncertain, Okumu’s absence has been confirmed, as he has been released to return to his professional club, Stade de Reims in France, for specialized treatment.
“We do not want the injury to worsen, so we have allowed him to go back to his club,” coach Firat stated when asked if Okumu could feature against Namibia today. The defender had fought his way back to fitness and was available for national duties in the team’s past four matches after a lengthy layoff between September and October due to pain in his hip flexor muscles.
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Among the three, Olunga’s injury poses the biggest concern for Firat. The coach had hoped to rely on Kenya’s record goal scorer to secure a strong finish in the upcoming clash at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium in South Africa, marking the conclusion of their AFCON 2025 qualification campaign.
This will be the final game for both Kenya and Namibia, as neither team advanced to the tournament following a series of disappointing results against Group J opponents Cameroon and Zimbabwe, who have already secured their places for the 2025 event in Morocco.
In their first-leg encounter, Kenya defeated Namibia 2-1, with Harambee Stars players John Avire and Duke Abuya scoring the winning goals during the match held at Orlando Stadium on September 10.
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