Harambee Stars will face Namibia for the seventh time in their history in a crucial Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Qualifier at Orlando Stadium in South Africa. The Namibian Warriors, who will also play away from home due to stadium issues in their country, have the upper hand in their head-to-head record, with four wins to Kenya’s two. Notably, none of their past encounters have ended in a draw.
The first meeting between the two nations dates back to 1996 during an AFCON Qualifier at the Sam Nujoma Stadium in Windhoek, where an 89th-minute own goal by Kenya’s Francis Oduor handed Namibia a 1-0 victory. Kenya’s two wins against Namibia came in 2008 and 2013, with the latter being the most recent encounter between the sides. In that match at the MISC Kasarani, David ‘Calabar’ Owino scored in the fifth minute to secure a 1-0 win for Harambee Stars under the management of Adel Amrouche. Only Abud Omar, who started as a left-back in that game, remains on the current squad.
Kenya’s other win came in a 2008 World Cup Qualifier under coach Francis Kimanzi, where a Jamal Mohammed penalty was enough to see off Namibia 1-0 at Kasarani. However, Namibia has proven to be a difficult opponent, winning four of the six matches played since 1996, with notable victories including a 1-0 triumph in Nairobi in 1997 and a 2-1 win in Windhoek in 2008.
The stakes are high for both teams as they seek to recover from disappointing starts in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers. Kenya, under coach Engin Firat, is coming off a lackluster 0-0 draw against Zimbabwe, which drew criticism from fans and pundits alike for Firat’s cautious approach and failure to deploy a traditional striker in the absence of injured captain Michael Olunga. Defensive concerns are also mounting, with Alphonce Omija and Erick Ouma sidelined due to injuries. Firat is expected to shake things up offensively, with forwards Jonah Ayunga, Benson Omala, and John Avire vying for a starting spot.
Namibia, ranked 118th in the latest FIFA World Rankings, is also under pressure after a narrow 1-0 loss to five-time AFCON champions Cameroon. The Warriors struggled to make an impact in front of goal, a weakness Kenya will look to exploit. With both teams desperate for a win to bolster their qualification hopes, this encounter promises to be a fiercely contested battle as Kenya aims to end Namibia’s dominance and revive their AFCON dreams.
