AFCON Qualifiers 2025: Firat Mercilessly Shoots direct at Kenya, Referee in Harambee Stars-Zimbabwe Warriors Barren Draw
By: Kayiira Jackson
The Turkish International tactician Engin Firat had no kind words to his pay masters and the match official following a barren stalemate between his side Harambee Stars and Zimbabwe Warriors on Friday.
Kenya who hosted their Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers 2025 opening fixture at Mandela National Stadium Namboole, picked only a point in their encounter against Zimbabwe Warriors.
Harambee Stars dominated possession for much of the match, creating numerous scoring chances.
However, the Warriors’ resolute defence and the rough nature of the game prevented them from finding the net.
After the final whistle, Harambee Stars coach Engin Firat expressed frustration with the referee’s performance, accusing him of bias in favour of the Warriors.
Firat claimed that the official’s decisions were skewed.
“The referee shouldn’t be the one defending teams,” Firat said. “I observed numerous situations where the players used their hands to play the ball, and the referee favoured Zimbabwe.”
The Senegalese referee, Adalbert Diouf was the centre referee in the encounter.
Despite the draw, there were notable performances from both sides. Harambee Stars’ Odhiambo Otieno and Eric Johana Omondi impressed, while Zimbabwe’s Khama Billiat and John Gerald Tungamirai stood out.
Firat also took the opportunity to criticize Kenya’s sports infrastructure, suggesting that it hinders the country’s football development.
“Sometimes I wonder whether Kenya is a football nation, luck of infrastructure affects the development of the game, playing at an empty stadium in the neighborhood is not good.” He commented.
Both coaches praised Uganda’s stadium, citing it as one of the best in Africa.
Kenya who are now topping group J with one point, shall return to action on Tuesday as they visit Namibia at Orlando Stadium in South Africa.
Their counterparts, Zimbabwe Warriors shall stay in Uganda as they wait to host Cameron on Tuesday at Mandela National Stadium Namboole.