Kenya’s Harambee Stars faced a crushing 4-1 defeat at the hands of Cameroon in their crucial Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier match.
The encounter, held at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaoundé, saw the Indomitable Lions dominate throughout the game, leaving Harambee Stars’ hopes of AFCON qualification hanging by a thread.
Cameroon opened the scoring early in the first half through captain Vincent Aboubakar, who netted a brilliant penalty kick in the 8th minute.
The Kenyan team struggled to find their rhythm as Cameroon applied relentless pressure.
In the 39th minute, Martin Hongla doubled Cameroon’s lead with a composed finish after a clever build up.
Just two minutes later, Kenya briefly found hope when Michael Olunga pulled one back in the 41st minute, giving Harambee Stars a lifeline.
However, the hope was short-lived. In the 43rd minute, Bryan Mbeumo restored Cameroon’s two-goal advantage with a sharp strike, putting the hosts firmly in control as they headed into halftime with a 3-1 lead.
In the second half, Cameroon continued to dominate.
Christian Bassogog sealed the 4-1 victory in the 55th minute with a well taken goal, leaving Kenya’s defense scrambling to contain the relentless Cameroonian attack.
The defeat leaves Harambee Stars with a slim chance of advancing to the AFCON tournament, as they now face the daunting task of winning their remaining qualifier matches.
Kenyan football fans have since voiced concerns over the national team’s performance, calling for significant improvements ahead of the final qualifier match.
