Harambee Stars assistant captain Abud Omar has urged his teammates to shift focus to Guinea following a disappointing 1-1 draw against Eritrea at Nyayo Stadium on Saturday. The Tusker FC defender captained the team in the absence of regular captain and expressed gratitude to the supporters who turned up in large numbers. Despite the encouraging atmosphere, Omar acknowledged that the result fell short of the team's expectations.
The match against Eritrea was marked by Kenya's dominance for long spells, but they struggled to find the finishing touch, allowing Eritrea to hold on to their lead until the closing stages. Eritrea goalkeeper Malik Abdulrahman made several crucial saves as the hosts pressed for an equaliser. Ryan Ogam's late equaliser earned the Stars a point, but Omar stressed that the team will keep fighting until the very end to achieve their goals.
Omar highlighted the importance of maintaining the bond between the team and supporters as the campaign moves to Guinea. He praised the crowd for their energy and belief, which he said meant everything to the team. The team's preparations were disrupted by concerns over outstanding allowances before the squad resumed training, and they had only limited time together before facing Eritrea.
Midfielder Duke Abuya echoed Omar's sentiments, feeling that the team performed reasonably well in midfield despite having only one training session together. Abuya, who plays for Yanga SC, was involved in Kenya's attempts to break down the Eritrean defence but acknowledged that the team was unlucky in the final third. He attributed the problem to converting chances rather than creating opportunities.
The draw leaves Kenya with one point from their opening Group D match, while Guinea also started their campaign with a defeat, losing 2-1 to South Africa in Johannesburg. Kenya travel to Conakry for Thursday's encounter at Stade du 28 Septembre, and Abuya believes that the limited preparation contributed to some of Kenya's shortcomings. However, he insisted that there is enough quality in the squad to respond in the next match.
Abuya is confident that the team can be considerably more productive in front of goal against Guinea. He attributed Kenya's attacking shortcomings to a combination of factors, including limited preparation and luck. Ogam's late finish, assisted by Ben Stanley Omondi, rescued Kenya with a crucial equaliser, and Abuya believes that the team can build on this momentum.
As the Stars prepare for their first away assignment of the campaign, Omar called for continued support from the fans. Kenya are already assured of their place in the tournament as co-hosts alongside Uganda and Tanzania. With the Guinea fixture only days away, the team will seek a stronger response after surrendering two points at home, and Omar reiterated his commitment to fighting until the very end.
Key points
- Harambee Stars aim to bounce back against Guinea after a disappointing draw against Eritrea.
- The team's preparations were disrupted by concerns over outstanding allowances before the squad resumed training.
- Kenya travel to Conakry for Thursday's encounter at Stade du 28 Septembre, seeking a stronger response against Guinea.
