#WajingaSisi: Kenyans question Harambee Stars after losing to a team 99 places below them in FIFA rankings

Harambee Stars yesterday lost 4-1 to Eritrea in the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup semi-final [Courtesy]

On Tuesday, December 17, shock gripped football faithful after news Eritrea had eliminated defending champions Harambee Stars (Kenya) in the semi-final of the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup.

The ‘Red-Sea Boys’ as they a popularly referred to, made light work of Francis Kimanzi’s side by putting four goals past them in a match played at the KCCA Lugogo Stadium, Kampala.

Goals from Captain Robel Kidane, Abel Solomon Okbay, Habte Gebremesqel and an own goal from the Kenyans ensured Eritrea stayed on course to face either Tanzania or Uganda.

Piece of the action from KCCA Lugogo Stadium, Kampala [Courtesy]

Oscar Wamalwa scored an own goal early in the first half to set the ball rolling for an exemplary Eritrean side, who laid waste to Harambee Stars after the restart.

Okbay doubled Eritrea’s lead five minutes after half-time with a superb strike, leaving the defending champions clutching at straws the.

Wamalwa handed Kenya a consolation four minutes later but goals from Gebremesqel and Kidane stretched Eritrea’s lead.

Head Coach Francis Kimanzi had returned to the touchline after his two-match suspension which kept him away for the clashes against Sudan and Zanzibar.

After the defeat, football fans took to social media to express their disappointment, with most confused at how a team 99 places behind Harambee Stars in the FIFA rankings could manage such an emphatic defeat.

Here are some of the reactions captured by Game Yetu on social media:

Fearless Wanderer (Twitter): Why make excuses? This is the same Kenyan side that topped it's group unbeaten. A simple replay of the highlights will show Eritrea simply completely outclassed their Kenyan counterparts & played very well.

Lee Nasir (Twitter): What pains me a lot being beaten by guys with funny names. Eritrean midfielder yeshkidnau sinamalangush. Goalkeeper brehanu fikirlehun... Gai. Hata majina balaaa.

Mohamed Hersi (Twitter) - Kimanzi is fielding his buddies. We have very many good players. Bure Kabisa. Just fire him. Recycling him does not help Harambee Stars bundled out of CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup after 4-1 loss to Eritrea.

Ivans (Twitter) - Aje sasa a country with over 4million people can hummer country with over 47million people #wajinganisisi
Daniel Lugz (Facebook):  Yaaani Eritrea?? Atleast ingekua ni ug imetupiga..... Stars walijifanya fundi nakudharau Eritrea... Bure sana

Asif Issak (Facebook): 4 goals conceded past Kenya against a team of Eritrean calibre is a thing of Humiliating shame for reigning champions to be bundled out.
I salute Eritrea

Msungu Mwibi (Facebook): When ziko was in charge the team did well, upon kimanzi coming back we see the results