Guinea Bissau beat Kenya 1-0 in the first leg of AFCON Group E qualifier

Michael Olunga contest for aerial ball with Juary Marinho. [PHOTO: SPORTPICHA/STAFFORD ONDEGO]

Kenya can as well kiss 2017 Africa Cup of Nations goodbye.

Harambee Stars lost 1-0 away to Guinea Bissau and with that, are now bottom of Group E with one point from three rounds of matches.

Things were thick. Things were hot at the 20, 000-seater Estádio 24 de Setembro venue, which was full one hour to the 7pm kick-off. The heat was being felt on and off the field of play. Temperatures were at 38 Degrees Celsius. After five minutes of play, the pace from both sides was predictably slow, passes wayward and fouls too common in between.

Guinea Bissau built the rhythm early in the match as they went on the offensive with a domineering ease.

Goalkeeper Arnold Origi denied Hosea Mendes in the fourth minute as the hosts maintained their ascendancy. The tempo was there. Their movement was impressive, so were their diagonal runs. Crisp.

Guinea Bissau camped at the Kenyan backline for as long as they so wished. Not that they were having the game of their lives. Kenya's back four let them. Rarely were Harambee Stars daring enough and surge forward. And when they did, the centreline was the furthest they managed.

It was not until the seventh minute that Kenya penetrated the hosts' territory, their first effort resulting in a corner.

One minute later, Johanna Omollo found himself unmarked in the Bissau backline, but fluffed his shot.

Harambee Stars coach Stanley Okumbi opted to play Sweden-based forward Michael Olunga as a lone striker and it didn't seem to work as expected.

Newcomer Patilla Omotto struggled more than he ought to in midfield. It was no wonder few balls headed his way.

There was no clear link between the midfield and striker Olunga, thus forcing him to drop deep. Okumbi's plans were totally exposed. There was no rhythm in the midfield.

The hosts maintained the tempo and were duly awarded in the 18th minute when Idrissa Kamara headed home with defender Musa Mohammed well beaten.

With the Bissau backline frustrating Stars, the Kenyans opted for long balls to Olunga, but even that proved futile. Kenya needed a goal, in whatever way, but the means of realising that idea were not helping.

Harambee Stars started the second half a stronger side and were rewarded with a 46th minute corner. Stars showed more urgency well aware that time was running out. Time was running out and they needed to safe face; with a goal. Jesse Were was brought in five minutes after restart, taking the place of Eric Johanna, while Patilla Omoto gave way to Teddy Akumu.

With the introduction of Were, Olunga could afford to stay upfront though there were still no clear-cut chances coming Kenya's way.

Clifftone Miheso should have done better at the hour mark when he missed connecting a cross from Olunga, which allowed the opponents to lay a counter-attack.

From the hour mark, Stars looked quite dominant with team captain Victor Wanyama pulling strings in the midfield.