Kenya’s aspirations for a spot in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations faced a severe setback after a dismal performance in Douala, Cameroon, on Friday. The Harambee Stars struggled significantly, suffering a 4-1 defeat to the host nation at the packed Japoma Stadium.
The match quickly turned one-sided, with Cameroon showcasing their dominance throughout. The Indomitable Lions took the lead just eight minutes into the game when Hatayaspor’s Vincent Aboubakar converted an early penalty, igniting the home crowd. FC Granada’s Martin Hongla then extended Cameroon’s lead to 2-0 in the 39th minute.
Although Kenya’s captain, Michael Olunga, managed to pull one back just before halftime in the 41st minute, Cameroon’s response was swift. Brentford FC’s Brian Mbeumo restored their two-goal cushion just two minutes later, and Okhdood Club’s Christian Bassogog sealed the victory with a stunning goal in the 55th minute.
This defeat marked Kenya’s ongoing struggles against Cameroon, with the West African nation now having won five out of the nine encounters between the teams since their first meeting in 1972. Kenya has yet to record a win against Cameroon, and the statistics from this match highlighted their challenges: Kenya managed only two shots on target compared to Cameroon’s five, and the hosts dominated possession with 61% to Kenya’s 39%. Additionally, Cameroon completed 496 passes while Kenya managed just 312.
Following this outcome, Cameroon leads Group J with seven points, while Kenya drops to third place after matchday three. To keep their qualification hopes alive, the Harambee Stars must aim to secure at least a point in the return leg against Cameroon on Monday in Uganda, as they seek to avoid elimination ahead of the final matchday in November.
