Kenya coach cries foul

KENYAN national team coach Engin Firat has slammed Senegalese referee Adalbert Diouf who took charge of their Friday’s 2025 Afcon Qualifiers Group J opener against Zimbabwe.

The Harambe Stars played a goalless draw against the Warriors in a match played at Mandela Stadium in Kampala, Uganda.

Speaking after the match, Firat said Khama Billiat and Gerald Takwara were supposed to get red cards for dangerous play.

Takwara only received a yellow card for a crude challenge against Amos Nondi in the 66th minute.

Billiat, who got his first booking in the 23rd minute, survived a second caution later in the second half.

The coach was also irked by Diouf’s decision to turn down a penalty claim by Austin Odhiambo.

He told the Press: “The referee should not help a team on the pitch.

“There were so many situations where I had no idea what he was seeing. Takwara should have been shown a red card for a dangerous foul in the second half.

“Billiat should have been sent off for a second bookable offence. Austin was fouled in the box, yet nothing was given. Why is it always us?” Firat was quoted as saying by Soccer24Team.

The gaffer added: “It was not okay what happened today (Friday). I am not happy with the referee. To improve football, the referee should not side with teams that are only defending and not playing.”

Going into Friday afternoon’s match, Firat was a bitter and scared man after several of his players allegedly withdrew from the team to face Zimbabwe.

They were without defender Johnstone Omurwa, who opted to go and finalise a move to a new side.

Daniel Anyembe withdrew from the squad according to Soccer24Team to attend to personal reasons.

Injury ruled out Collins Shichenje.

His problems were also exacerbated by the unavailability of captain Michael Olunga. The skipper had been sidelined from 23 August.

The striker who had travelled to Uganda failed to recover could not pass a late fitness test.

“I don’t know why we are always unlucky during Fifa days, we always have injured players. We are missing a lot of important players and it is a very unlucky situation for us,” Firat who holds dual citizenship for Germany and his country of birth Turkey was quoted by The Star.

Despite hit by player withdrawals, Kenya have a solid track record against Zimbabwe, remaining unbeaten in their four previous encounters, with three wins and one draw.

The Harambe Stars beat the Warriors 2-0 in a Cosafa Cup tie in South Africa three months ago.  

Kenya beat Zimbabwe 3-1 victory in an friendly international match in March and a 2-0 win during the 2010 World Cup qualifying match in 2008. 

Kenya and Zimbabwe drew 0-0 in 2008.

Firat, 54, whose best result as a coach has been a 1.27 points per match in 11 outings a lowly 11.5 percent success rate. This was at a club in Iran known as Sepahan.

The Kenyan job is his 15th and success continues to sideline him.

On Tuesday, the Warriors will clash with Cameroon in another Africa Cup of Nations Group J qualifier at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Kampala.

Cameroon played against Namibia last night. – Soccer24Team/Zimpapers Sports Hub