Harambee Stars draw 1-1 against Eritrea in AFCON qualifier

Kenya's Harambee Stars played to a 1-1 draw against Eritrea in their opening Group D match for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers at Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi. Eritrea took the lead in the 36th minute through Girmai Netabay Kabaka, but Kenya secured a late equalizer via Ryan Ogam in the 87th minute.

Although Kenya has already secured automatic qualification for the 2027 tournament as a co-host alongside Uganda and Tanzania, CAF regulations require participation in the qualifiers. For coach Bennie McCarthy, the campaign serves as an opportunity to refine squad tactics and match fitness.

Preparations for the Kenyan side were hampered by a player strike regarding unpaid allowances, which disrupted training sessions until shortly before the match. The squad featured several young players, including Shariff Musa and Amos Wanjala, making their debuts. In contrast, the Eritrean squad relied heavily on diaspora-based players competing in European and Australian leagues.