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Harambee Stars coach Engin Firat has reacted to the qualifying draw for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations which saw Kenya pooled with Cameroon, Namibia and Zimbabwe.
Harambee Stars coach Engin Firat feels Kenya must be at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after getting Cameroon, Namibia and Zimbabwe in their qualifying draw.
Kenya, just like Zimbabwe, missed out of the qualifying phase for the 2023 tournament following a FIFA ban slapped on the two countries but now have a chance to right those wrongs and Firat is keen to ensure they do not miss out.
“It doesn’t matter how we qualify for AFCON 2025 whether first or second we want to go to Morocco,” Firat told journalist Eric Njiru.
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16:18 - 04.07.2024
AFCON 2025: Harambee Stars to face Cameroon in tough group
Harambee Stars have been faced in a very tough AFCON 2025 qualifying group, which will include a tricky double-headed encounter against Cameroon.
The Turkish tactician is excited by Kenya’s opponents in Group J who he has termed ‘tough’ but feels it is what his team need to bring out their best in the qualifiers.
“It’s a very strong group. All of these good teams had good success in the past. We got Zimbabwe the strongest team in Pot 4 because you know they were also banned so they drop in rankings but they were good,” he added.
“From my side, I like when all teams are strong this means everybody can beat everybody. It’s not so simple to go through.
“Nothing changes like I said before the qualifiers we want to go to AFCON [it] doesn’t matter how whether first of second we want to be in Morocco.”
Five-time African champions Cameroon are the favourites to top the group on paper but Namibia will not be pushovers after their impressive run at the 2023 AFCON when they made it to the Round of 16 for the first time in their history.
Zimbabwe, meanwhile, had made three straight appearances (2017, 2019 and 2021) before their disqualification from the 2023 qualifiers but Kenya will approach them with confidence after beating them 3-1 at the Four Nations tournament in March.
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