Harambee Stars will begin their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualification campaign against Eritrea on Saturday September 26 as the two sides meet in a Group D opener.
Kenya will host the Red Sea Camels at the Nyayo national stadium in a match that gives Benni McCarthy’s side an opportunity to prepare for next year’s continental tournament while Eritrea will be looking to make a strong start to its qualification campaign.
The group also features South Africa and Guinea, with the teams set to face each other in two-legged fixtures.
Kenya’s place at the 2027 AFCON is already guaranteed regardless of their performance in the qualifiers. However, the results will determine the other qualifying place from Group D, with only the highest-ranked team among the other three sides securing a ticket to the tournament.
Here are live updates as the match unfolds:
4:00PM: Kenya vs Eritrea match kicks off
4:06 PM: Corner kick for Harambee Stars
4:08 PM: Kenya 0-0 Eritrea
4:11 PM: Ryan Ogam misses a chance
4:15PM — Match Statistics
- Possession: Kenya 49% – 51% Eritrea
- Big chances: Kenya 1 – 0 Eritrea
- Touches in opposition box: Kenya 8 – 0 Eritrea
- Total shots: Kenya 5 – 0 Eritrea
- Shots off target: Kenya 2 – 0 Eritrea
4:16 PM: Foul for Eritrea
4:21 PM: Eritrea’s Teklegzi fouled
Kenya 0-0 Eritrea
4:23: Eritrea awarded a foul.
Eritrea makes first substitution Misignha J in Ali. J out
4:25: Ryan Ogam looses another big chance
4:26: Abud Omar is fouled
4: 29 PM: Onyango awarded a yellow card
4:37 PM: Girmai scores for Eritrea
4: 45PM: Three minutes added time
HALF TIME: Kenya0-1 Eritrea
Harambee Stars Starting XI vs Eritrea
Eritrea lineup
Eritrea Starting XI
Eritrea will line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation against Harambee Stars.
Goalkeeper
- 1 Yonathan Sultan
Defenders
- 25 Victor Lars
- 14 Namrud Embaye
- 3 Jonas Ibrahim
- 4 Ali Jemal
Midfielders
- 20 Nahom Girmai Netabay
- 7 Filmon Gebregzabihier
- 19 Yohannes Esrom Mussie
- 10 Ali Sulieman
- 8 Ablelom Teklezgi
Forward
- 9 Tesfaldet Tekie
Eritrea Substitutes
- 12 Yoel Kebreab
- 2 Mussie Beraky
- 5 Nahom Tadese Mekonen
- 11 Romel Abdu Mahmud
- 16 Henos Asmelash
- 17 Fahmi Ibrahim
- 18 Yoel Yilma
- 23 Maill Lundgren
- 26 Awet Alemseged
- 30 Issac Abusolomon Ayaya
- 31 Yonatan Sebhatu
- 33 Yosief Misgina
Also Read: Benni McCarthy Explains Why Michael Olunga Will Not Feature Against Eritrea
Kenya’s recent form
Harambee Stars head into the match after mixed results in their June friendly fixtures.
Kenya drew 1-1 with Lesotho before recording a 4-0 victory in the second leg.
However, preparations for the Eritrea match were disrupted by a player strike over unpaid allowances from the summer fixtures.
The Ministry of Sports resolved the dispute 48 hours before the match, leaving the team with limited time to prepare for the qualifier.
McCarthy will now be looking to assess his squad’s match fitness while working on the tactics and playing style he wants to use ahead of the AFCON tournament next year.
Eritrea looking to cause another upset
Eritrea arrive in Nairobi after progressing from the preliminary round against Eswatini.
The Red Sea Camels have also drawn attention to their diaspora-based players, who played a role in their recent success.
Eritrea will also take confidence from their previous meetings with Kenya.
The two teams last met in the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup in December 2019, when Eritrea defeated Kenya 4-1.
Their previous AFCON qualifying meetings also went Eritrea’s way.
Eritrea beat Kenya 1-0 in June 2007 after winning the first meeting 2-1 in September 2006.
Harambee Stars will therefore be seeking a different result when the two sides meet in the latest Group D encounter.
Also Read: Benni McCarthy Reveals Why He Does Not Stay in Kenya
Kenya vs Eritrea Head-to-Head
December 17, 2019: Kenya 1-4 Eritrea
June 16, 2007: Eritrea 1-0 Kenya
September 2, 2006: Kenya 1-2 Eritrea
Harambee Stars AFCON Qualifier Final Squad
The Football Federation named a 14-player Harambee Stars squad for the AFCON 2027 qualifiers, with players drawn from clubs in Kenya and abroad.
Goalkeepers
- Byrne Omondi — Gor Mahia
- Faruk Shikhalo — Nairobi United
- Brian Bwire — Tusker
Defenders
- Michael Kibwage — Gor Mahia
- Rooney Onyango — Sogndal
- Hannif Wesonga — Jamus
- Stanley Wilson — AIK
- Abud Omar — Tusker
- Amos Wanjala — Valencia
- Frank Odhiambo — Gor Mahia
- Vincent Harper — Exeter City
Midfielders
- Manzur Okwara — Stade Reims
- Timothy Ouma — Chariton Athletic
- Chris Erambo — Tusker
- Duke Abuya — Yanga
- Marvin Nabwire — Power Dynamos
Forwards
- Sharif Musa — Gor Mahia
- Mohammed Bajaber — Unattached
- Ben Stanley — Gor Mahia
- Job Ochieng — Real Sociedad
- Javan Ochieng — Hickory FC
- Micah Obiero — Carlisle United
- Ryan Ogam — RFC Liège
- Michael Olunga — Al-Arabi
Follow our WhatsApp Channel and X Account for real-time news updates.
