Cameroon dented Kenya’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON qualification hopes following a 1-0 win in their reverse fixture at the Stade Nelson Mandela Stadium in Uganda on Monday.
Harambee Stars went into the game seeking revenge having suffered a 4-1 defeat in their first round meeting at Japoma Stadium in Cameroon on Friday October 11.
Coach Engin Firat made changes to his starting XI with goalkeeper Patrick Matasi, who had a calamitous display against the Indomitable Lions, dropping to the bench with Bandari custodian Bryne Omondi coming in between the sticks.
Reims defender Joseph Okumu, who came in as a substitute in Douala, started in the defence alongside Johnstone Omurwa, Daniel Anyembe and Erick ‘Marcelo’ Ouma while Anthony Akumu, Richard Odada and Duke Abuya took up the midfield role.
Michael Olunga, who scored the lone goal in Cameroon, led the striking alongside John Avire, the scorer of Kenya’s goal in the 2-1 win against Namibia, while Rooney Onyango played behind the two forwards.
Unlike in the first meeting, Kenya started strongly taking the game into Cameroon from the first whistle and they had an opportunity to take the lead in the sixth minute, but Olunga’s free header was stopped by Onana.
Cameroon responded with an attack of their own after Pierre Kunde initiated a move from the middle of play before setting up Martin Hongla, who in turn laid a neat pass to Bryan Mbeumo but the Brentford forward saw his effort go inches wide.
In the 24th minute, Kenya defender Ouma continued to prove lethal from his overlapping moves and he almost provided an assist when he set up Avire, whose final touch was not good enough as the ball rolled out for a goal-kick.
Two minutes later, Kenya’s Abuya, who plays for Young Africans (Yanga SC) in the Tanzanian Premier League became the first player to go into the referees’ book after he was yellow carded following a clumsy challenge on Nouhou Tolo.
The first corner of the game fell to Kenya in the 34th minute, and it was delivered by Abuya, but Olunga’s header was kept out by the Manchester United goalkeeper. As the game approached the half-time break, Kenya had managed four shots, two on target, while Cameroon had managed five, but two on target. Cameroon were leading in ball possession at 53 percent, while Kenya had 43.
Meanwhile, the East African nation had managed 164 complete passes, while Cameroon had 213.
At the start of the second half, Firat made Kenya’s first change, Alphonse Omija coming in for Anyembe while the Indomitable Lions coach Marc Brys pulled out Kunde for Boris Enow. In the 56th minute, Omija was booked for a poor challenge on Vincent Aboubakar, who was through in goal.
In the 63rd minute, Cameroon took the lead when Enow scored from a free-kick, putting the ball beyond the stretching hands of Omondi. In the 68th minute, Firat made a double change, Timothy Ouma coming in for Abuya, while Avire was withdrawn for Amos Nondi.
The outcome saw Cameroon cement their the top spot in Group J with 10 points, while Kenya remained third on four points. Zimbabwe, who are second with five points, were due to face Namibia, who are last without a point, at Orlando Stadium in South Africa on Monday.
Kenya starting XI: Bryne Omondi, Erick Otieno, Johnstone Omurwa, Joseph Okumu, Daniel Anyembe, Anthony Akumu, Duke Abuya, Richard Odada, John Avire, Rooney Onyango, Michael Onyango.
Cameroon starting XI: Andre Onana, Jackson Tchatchoua, Michael Ngadeu, Jean-Charles Castelletto, Nouhou Tolo, Pierre Kunde, Bryan Mbeumo, Martin Hongla, Frank Anguissa, Christian Bassogog and Vincent Aboubakar.
