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Harambee Stars looked out of sorts throughout the match as Cameroon cruised to a 4-1 win on Friday night, to give them an advantage ahead of the second leg encounter.
Harambee Stars trip to Cameroon for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier clash took a massive nosedive as they were torn apart 4-1 by the Indomitable Lions in a game that took place at Yaounde's Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium on Friday night.
The Central African nation were a class apart in their execution and management of the game, putting their off-the field issues behind them to deliver a masterclass of a performance for coach Marc Brys.
Cameroon, who named a star-studded line-up for the fixture that included Andre Onana, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, Vincent Aboubakar and Bryan Mbeumo, took a 6th minute lead. Aboubakar converted from the spot after Eric Otieno was adjudged to have hadled the ball in the box.
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16:30 - 11.10.2024
Sports CS Kipchumba Murkomen encourages Harambee Stars ahead of clash against Cameroon
Murkomen has sent a motivational message to the national football team Harambee Stars as they prepare to face Cameroon over a two-legged encounter in their quest to qualify for AFCON 2025.
The 32-year-old Hatayaspor goal machine, sent goalkeeper Patrick Matasi the wrong way, as the home fans roared back into life.
Stars struggled to create clear chances in as the team failed to cope up with the pace of Cameroon, while the absence of Joseph Okumu in defence exposed Kenya's weakness at the back.
In the 12th minute, play was stopped for about five minutes after Cameroon's Christopher Wooh collided with Amos Nondi. The former was replaced in the 18th minute by Jean-Charles Victor Castelletto.
Harambee stars then saw more of the ball between the 19th and 30th minutes but failed to hit the target.
In the 29th minute, Nondi was booked for a cynical foul on Christian Bassogog but
Anguisa short wide the resultant freekick.
Otieno battled with Mbeumo and fought for every ball but it was Martin Hongla who doubled Cameroon's lead in the 39th minute after a flowing team move. His goal came after he had squandered a clear cut chance two minutes before.
Captain Michael Olunga halved the deficit in the 41st minute with his bullet header too hot to save by Onana. Otieno supplied the inch-perfect cross that was converted by the Al Duhail striker.
Kenya's celebration was short-lived as Mbeumo made it 3-1 in the 43rd minute, deflating Harambee Stars hopes of an unlikely comeback as the halftime whistle sounded.
Okumu replaced Nondi at half time as Engin Firat reshuffled his pack. Barely 10 minutes after the restart, Bassogog capped off a perfect evening with a tap in goal at the near post in the 55th minute, with Kenya's defense in disarray.
Alfred Scriven, John Avire and Chris Erambo were brought in for Duke Abuya, Timothy Ouma and Richard Odada respectively to save Kenya's sinking ship but Cameroon comfortably held on to their three-goal advantage.
Harambee Stars switch their attention to the return leg set for Monday in Uganda. The match will be played at Namboole Stadium
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