Harambee Stars midfielder Richard Odada is hopeful that Michael Olunga's recovery will hep Kenya in their pivotal doubleheader against Cameroon in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers this October. 

The two-legged encounter is expected to play a crucial role in determining which team will advance from Group J and secure a spot in the prestigious tournament, set to be held in Morocco next year.

Kenya's qualification campaign gained momentum early this week with a vital 2-1 victory over Namibia, courtesy of a stunning free-kick from John Avire and a clinical finish from Duke Abuya. 

The win, achieved at Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, marked a significant boost for the Harambee Stars, who had opened their campaign with a goalless draw against Zimbabwe at Nelson Mandela Stadium in Uganda.

With the three points from the Namibia clash, Kenya now sit atop Group J, level on four points with Cameroon, but ahead on goal difference. 

Both teams will face each other in a highly anticipated doubleheader next month, which could determine their fate in the race for AFCON 2025 qualification. The top two teams from the group will secure their places at the tournament.

Odada expressed his satisfaction with the team's progress so far, emphasising their determination to reach the AFCON stage.

"I feel good because we should have won the first match but did not. Kenyans expect more, so we also demand more from ourselves because this is our job," Odada told OdiBets TV.

"We keep going because it is our dream to qualify for the AFCON and we will work to get there."

Kenya's recent success has been achieved without their talismanic captain Olunga, who had been sidelined with an injury since August. The Al Duhail forward missed both the Zimbabwe and Namibia encounters, but his absence has been keenly felt, especially in the first match where Kenya struggled to find the back of the net.

When asked about the impact of Olunga’s absence, Odada was quick to acknowledge the forward’s importance to the team.

"Yes, we missed him. He is one of the most important players in our team, and his absence was felt, especially in the first game," said Odada.

"We hope he will be fit enough for the next game. If he was there against Namibia, I am sure he would have scored like two or three goals for sure, and he would have gotten something in the first game as well."

Olunga's club Al Duhail confirmed on Friday that he has recovered from the injury and his return will provide a significant boost to Kenya’s attacking options as they prepare for the decisive October matches. With both teams tied on points, the outcome of the doubleheader could prove decisive in determining who will advance to AFCON 2025.

 CAF Confederation Cup: Kenya Police fail to utilise their chances to hand Zamalek first leg advantage

Kenya Police failed to make their chances count as Zamalek got one step closer to sealing a CAF Confederation Cup group stage place.

Kenya Police could make their chances count as Zamalek secured a crucial 1-0 first leg win over the reigning FKF Cup holders in a CAF Confederation Cup second preliminary round tie that took place at the Nyayo National Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

For the better part of the opening two minutes, Police barely got a sniff of the ball, with Zamalek keeping hold of the possession until the second minute when Patrick Matasi made a timely interception by stopping a cross with his hands.

From then on, Police started to gradually grow in confidence, and in the eighth minute, Francis Kahata picked out a delicious pass towards the path of Jesse Were but it was overhit.

The game then became even, with both sides having an equal share of dominance, but Police would then find themselves creating and missing three big chances in the end, the first in the 25th minute where after a nice exchange of passes, Jaffari Owiti hit a left footed shot just wide of the post.

The second chance came in the 41st minute when they found themselves exchanging neat passes, but the final ball executed by Kahata towards Owiti was intercepted by keeper Mohammed Sobhy. The biggest one of them in the 41st minute, when they found themselves with a good chance to counter attack.

The ball was hit towards David Okoth, who whipped a left footed cross into the center of the box toward Were, but the former Zesco man whipped the ball wide.

Police would pay for their profligacy when Abdullah Al-Saeed struck a delicious ball into the back of the net, leaving Matasi helpless. The goal was created after Aboud Omar had fouled Zamalek’s Mohamed Mohamed just near the edge of the byline on the left, giving them the 1-0 lead heading into the break.

Police did, however, take initiative as Zamalek seemingly opted to sit back and defend their lead, with substitutes Alvin Mang’eni and Tyson Otieno, who had replaced Owiti and Charles Ouma injecting a fresh spark into the team.

They attempted shots at goal, but they would only be straight at the Zamalek keeper with 10 minutes of the game left to play.

Jesse Were would get yet another glorious chance to equalise in the 87th minute when Kahata found him again with a good pass, but the former Tusker Man hit it just wide.

In the end, it was the reigning Confederation Cup holders who would sealed to a crucial win, and it now means they are 90 minutes away from sealing yet another group stage place.

Kenya Police handed lifeline as CAF decision bars Zamalek fans from attending return leg clash in Cairo

Kenya Police will be eyeing an advantage in the second-leg against Zamalek as key circumstances could shift momentum.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) have announced that no fans will be allowed at Cairo International Stadium for the second-leg clash between Egypt's Zamalek SC and Kenya Police FC in the CAF Confederation Cup.

This decision, set for Friday, October 20, comes as part of a disciplinary ruling imposed by CAF dealing a potential blow to Zamalek's home advantage.

The ruling follows a decision from the CAF Disciplinary Board which has imposed a two-match ban on Zamalek spectators for their upcoming interclub home games.

The ban stems from earlier infractions and means that the passionate Zamalek fanbase, known for creating an intimidating atmosphere at Cairo International Stadium, will be absent as their team seeks to confirm a spot in the group stages of the 2024/2025 CAF Confederation Cup.

“To impose on Zamalek SC the obligation to play behind closed doors during these four (4) next interclub matches of the CAF as host club for failure to provide the necessary security measures for the match in question as per articles 82,83 and 100 of the CAF Disciplinary Code,” read part of the ruling from CAF.

With the absence of fans, the Kenyan side, Kenya Police FC, may sense an opportunity to capitalize on the quiet stands.

Playing in a stadium that is typically a fortress for Zamalek, the lack of crowd support could shift some of the momentum in favor of the visitors.

As outlined in the CAF and EFA’s joint statement, only a select group of people will be granted access to the match.

These include the players of both teams, officials seated in the technical area, 20 ball boys, 10 members each from the executive committees of Zamalek and Kenya Police, members of the Kenyan embassy in Egypt, and representatives of the Egyptian FA.

Media personnel and TV crew will also be in attendance, with the number of accredited media limited to what is usually seen in similar matches.

This measure ensures that no ordinary fans, neither home nor away supporters, will be allowed to enter the stadium.

Despite the setback of the fan ban, Zamalek SC heads into the match with a slender lead.

The Egyptian champions earned a 1-0 victory in the first leg of the second preliminary round of the CAF Confederation Cup, with star midfielder Abdullah Al-Saeed scoring the decisive goal just before halftime at the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi.

Al-Saeed’s goal came from a brilliant assist by Ahmed Mustafa Zizo, giving Zamalek a precious away win to take back to Cairo.

This narrow victory puts the White Knights in a favorable position to advance to the group stage of the competition, as they now have the advantage of having scored an away goal.

However, the lack of fan support may make this second leg more challenging than initially expected, as they attempt to hold off a motivated Kenya Police team looking to stage an upset.

Kenya Police will be heading into the second leg knowing that their chances of progression remain alive.

While they failed to score at home, the fact that they only trail by one goal means that an early strike in Cairo could turn the tie in their favor.

The absence of the Zamalek faithful who often act as a "12th man" for their team will give Kenya Police hope that they can pull off a surprise result in a more subdued atmosphere.

Despite the hurdles Zamalek faces with this fan ban, the reigning champions of the African Confederation Cup will be drawing on their experience and success in the competition.

Zamalek claimed the 2023/2024 Confederation Cup title after an intense battle with Moroccan side Renaissance Berkane eventually winning on away goals after a 2-2 aggregate scoreline.

For Mila Pulse Sport

~ Dan ~