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Firat has explained why he never started with a striker in the absence of Michael Olunga during their 0-0 draw with Zimbabwe on Friday.
Harambee Stars head coach Engin Firat has opened up on his decision to field a striker-less starting lineup in Kenya’s 0-0 draw with Zimbabwe during their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier.
Despite having three recognized forwards available on the bench, Firat opted to deploy two false number nines in Duke Abuya and Eric Johana, a decision that failed to bear fruit.
The absence of captain Michael Olunga, a talismanic figure for the national team, had raised expectations that either Benson Omala, Jonah Ayunga, or John Avire would lead the line in the crucial Group J opener at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Namboole.
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However, Firat surprised many by placing his faith in Johana, a natural midfielder, to spearhead the attack.
This tactical gamble quickly unraveled, with Johana struggling to adapt to his unfamiliar role. The former Mathare United man frequently dropped deep into midfield, leaving Kenya without a presence upfront to pressure Zimbabwe's defense.
The lack of a proper outlet in attack limited Kenya’s ability to break down their opponents, who comfortably contained the makeshift forward.
When questioned about his surprising decision, Firat explained that his strategy was based on exploiting perceived weaknesses in Zimbabwe's defense.
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“Their central defenders were not very fast. They were, however, physical and strong in the air. We wanted to capitalize on that and pass the ball around them,” Firat revealed. “We had situations where it worked in the first half, but not as I had wished.”
Zimbabwe’s defense was marshaled by the experienced Peter Garananga, who formed a solid partnership with John Takwara. While Firat’s plan to outmaneuver the defenders with quicker, ball-playing midfielders seemed plausible, it ultimately did not work as the team struggled to maintain fluidity in the final third.
As the match wore on, it became clear that Kenya’s attacking experiment was not yielding the desired results. Johana, while industrious, found himself isolated for much of the first half, unable to hold up play or provide a consistent threat.
Recognizing the need for a more traditional striker, Firat made the decision to withdraw Johana in favor of John Avire in the second half.
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18:32 - 06.09.2024
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Kenya were wasteful with the few chances they got in a game where they dominated ball possession during their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
Avire, who was part of the 2019 AFCON squad, immediately brought more aggression and physicality to the front line. His experience and natural instincts as a center forward saw him put Zimbabwe’s defense under considerable pressure. However, despite his efforts, Kenya's attacking supply lines remained ineffective, and the team was unable to find a breakthrough.
“I had to bring in Avire, who was very aggressive. He plays as a center forward at club level throughout, but in the end, we didn’t get a goal,” Firat admitted..
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