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A great many fans have raised the alarm after Harambee Stars' unexpected loss to South Sudan.
Former Gor Mahia Treasurer Sally Bolo has expressed her thoughts on a surprising turn of events at the Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani, as Harambee Stars suffered an unexpected 1-0 loss to South Sudan in an international friendly.
In what many termed as a glaring defensive oversight, Okello, now a striker for Kenya Police FC, netted a goal for South Sudan within the very first minute of the match.
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10:00 - 13.09.2023
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This lone goal, capitalizing on Kenya's defensive lapse, stood uncontested throughout, tilting the victory towards the Bright Stars of South Sudan.
Bolo, always one to voice her opinions, shed light on the current dynamics of African football.
“We must accept that football dynamics have shifted and that there are no longer underdog teams. I was present at the stadium yesterday and watched the game until the end, and I can confirm that there was no match fixing, as certain of you insinuated," she commented on X, dispelling rumors and addressing the prevalent skepticism surrounding the surprising outcome.
"Kenya's Harambee Stars were defeated squarely by South Sudan's Bright Stars, and apart from them playing good football, our opponent simply took advantage of our blunder and capitalized on it," she added.
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08:00 - 13.09.2023
FOOTBALL: Eight lessons learned from Harambee Stars' defeat to South Sudan
The loss saw South Sudan register their maiden win over Kenya since attaining independence back in 2011
Bolo's statement points to a broader narrative in African football: the rise of teams that were previously dismissed as 'minnows' or 'underdogs'.
“Ladies and gentlemen, South Sudan's football is on the rise. Don't forget that both their U-17 and U-19 teams qualified for the AFCON. From yesterday's match, I believe that both the boys and TB (Technical bench) learned some lessons and that going forward, they will not underrate their opponents,” she noted.
Despite dominating the game, Harambee Stars strikers Michael Olunga and Moses Shummah had their chances but failed to find the net.
07:00 - 13.09.2023
Harambee Stars player ratings: Muguna fluffs his lines, Olunga squanders chances
Boos roared all over Kasarani at fulltime as fans were devastated by Harambee Stars 1-0 loss to South Sudan. So how did the players perform individually?
The loss, albeit in a friendly, is a wake-up call for the Harambee Stars as they gear up for more significant challenges.
Their journey in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers is about to unfold. With their position in Group F, they will be contesting against teams like Seychelles, Burundi, Gambia, Gabon, and the formidable Côte d’Ivoire.
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