Firat concedes to Namibia ‘advantage’ in upcoming Afcon qualifier

Kenya national team coach Engin Firat feels that Namibia will have the upper hand in playing at the Orlando Stadium when the two nations meet in their next 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Tuesday evening.

Kick-off is at 6:00pm (CAT, GMT+2)

CURRENT FORM

The Brave Warriors faced a stern test in the form of Cameroon in their initial 2025 Afcon qualifier and suffered a 1-0 defeat against the Indomitable Lions at Stade Omnisports Roumdé Adjia last Saturday.

While Namibia were denied a victory in their opening qualifying fixture, Kenya could only manage a point in their opening Afcon qualifier following a 0-0 stalemate with Zimbabwe at the Mandela National Stadium on the 6th of September.

WHAT WAS SAID

Namibia head coach Collin Benjamin mentioned that he expects Kenya to play a counter-attacking style of play at the Orlando Stadium on Tuesday.

"It's obviously going to be an interesting match because I think both teams are eyeing the chance to gain three points,” Benjamin said.

“I also think it will be quite technical; we expect them to play deep and exploit the counter-attack, which they are really capable of.”

Reflecting on the upcoming fixture, Harambee Stars coach Engin Firat believes that Namibia will have home ground advantage in their favour in Johannesburg.

“It is an advantage of the field for them. For us, we have played one-and-a-half years, if you include the ban, it’s now two-and-a-half years, without a home match. I am the coach of Kenya but I have not played in Nairobi which is really ridiculous in a way,” Firat expressed.

“But I believe in our group, only Cameroon have real home advantage so for the other ones, there is no home advantage.”

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Namibia and Kenya have met on four occasions in the past, all of which came in CAF World Cup qualifiers since 2008. Past scorelines dictate tense encounters between the two nations in years gone by, with two victories accredited to their names apiece.