AFCON 2025 : “Engin Firat Fearless ahead of Indomitable Lions clash

Harambee Stars gaffer Engin Firat has assured that Cameroon will face a very different Kenya squad on Friday, October 11 at the Omnisports Amadou Ahidjo stadium.

Prior to game day 3 of the 2025 AFCON qualifiers, Kenya topped group J with 4 points, and are looking to maintain that position with a positive result against Cameroon tomorrow.

“Kenya is not as big a footballing country as Cameroon. However, we are unbeaten this year”.

Kenya are on an exquisite run of seven games without defeat. The last time Firat’s team lost a competitive game is as far back as November 2023 away to Gabon, in the World Cup qualifiers.

“This is no more the Kenya you knew, ” the trainer opined before adding what he uses as motivation for his players;

“If they have to fear something, it should be war not a football game.”

Quizzed about what his objectives in the game (playing for a draw or a win), the Turk replied;

” There is a difference between these two countries. Kenya are contented on qualifying for the AFCON, while Cameroon gets satisfaction only from winning the AFCON. No coach goes into a match for a draw. If you do, you’ll lose.

“We have never won against Cameroon in our last 8 games. This is the time to break that duck.”

After loads of deliberation, Kenya will play its reversed fixture against Cameroon behind closed doors in Uganda.

Coach Engin provided some clarity on reasons for that decision: “We need to think about security. I literally do not know home games. We play every match outside of home. More so, It is clear that if we open the game for supporters, we could have just Cameroonian supporters due to the stardust the country enjoys.

To conclude his presser, Engin added that it could be a bad moment to face Cameroon as all the in-house troubles have been fixed, with players looking fit.

“Cameroonian players are now in shape. Unlike other games, they’ll face us when some players have won player of the month, one scored more than Manchester United (referring to Brentford’s Mbeumo); “editor’s pick” .

In the last 8 games from 1972, all what Kenya has been able to afford is 4 draws against Cameroon. The Kenyans are yet to defeat Cameroon but Engin Firat and his team look to stun the Lions in what will be a major upset on Friday.