With nothing meaningful left to play for, Kenya and Namibia will conclude their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers with a meeting at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Tuesday.
Sitting third and fourth in Group J, both teams are set to miss out on the upcoming continental showpiece heading into the final round of qualifying matches.
Match preview
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After picking up four points from their opening two matches against Zimbabwe and Namibia, Kenya were well on course to secure safe passage into the AFCON group stages for the first time since 2019 having failed to qualify in 2021 and were ineligible to take part in 2023.
However, Engin Firat's men were comprehensively beaten by Cameroon in both of October's meetings between the teams three days apart, leaving them in need of a huge recovery with just two matches left to play.
Kenya took on Zimbabwe in their penultimate qualifier at the Orlando Stadium knowing that only a win would suffice, but the Harambee Stars went into the interval trailing to Tawanda Maswanhise's opener before Jonah Ayunga levelled matters.
A share of the spoils last time out was enough for Zimbabwe to book an AFCON ticket at Kenya's expense, meaning that the East Africans will not have a taste of African football's biggest event for the third edition running.
Nonetheless, Kenya will be back for the 2027 tournament having been named as co-hosts alongside Tanzania and Uganda, but in the meantime, Tuesday's hosts will be targeting a win here to snap a run of five matches without a victory.
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Namibia shocked many en route to their fourth AFCON showing in Ivory Coast earlier this year and went in search of consecutive continental tickets for the first time ever having been drawn in Group J of the qualifiers.
An opening 1-0 defeat to Cameroon set the tone for Collin Benjamin's men, who went on to lose their subsequent three outings against Kenya and Zimbabwe (twice) before finally recording their first point courtesy of a goalless stalemate against Cameroon last time out.
Despite recording just over a third of the ball possession (36%), the Warriors managed to muster more attacking threat than their opponents and could have easily snatched all three points on another day.
Namibia were previously in danger of being the only team to end the qualifying campaign with no points to their name, but Wednesday's draw has moved them level with Malawi and Ethiopia for the fewest points picked up.
While their AFCON qualification journey has been nothing to write home about, Tuesday's visitors are well and alive in their World Cup qualifying group and will be looking to put their continental disappointment behind them ahead of March's fixtures.
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Team News
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Jonah Ayunga opened his account for Kenya at only the fourth time of asking against Zimbabwe, and the forward is largely expected to retain his place in the lineup.
Michael Olunga, who has scored more goals for the hosts than any other active player, cut a frustrated figure last time out where he saw his three-game scoring streak come to an end.
Off the back of a first clean sheet in six matches, Namibia head coach Collin Benjamin will contemplate naming the same defensive unit from the game against Cameroon.
All-time leading goalscorer Peter Shalulile is just one shy of his 60th cap for the visitors which would see him become just the 11th player in his nation's history to hit that milestone.
Kenya possible starting lineup:
Odhiambo; Omar, Omurwa, Okumu, Anyembe; Nondi, Akumu; Otieno, Ayunga, Onyango; Olunga
Namibia possible starting lineup:
Maova; Kamberipa, Eib, Hambira, Katua, Hanamub; Tjiueza, Ngaruka, Petrus, Hotto; Shalulile
We say: Kenya 2-1 Namibia
With seven goals conceded apiece, the teams boast similar defensive numbers heading into this one, but Kenya have had the upper hand at the top end of the pitch, and we are backing them to carry the day.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Adepoju Marvellous
