Mali beat Harambee Stars to end Kenya’s World Cup dream

Harambee Stars players celebrating their second goal against Taifa Stars during a friendly match at Nyayo National Stadium on Monday, March 15, 2021. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Harambee Stars were on Sunday defeated 1-0 by Mali in Group E’s 2022 World Cup qualifiers match played at Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi.

Mali's forward Ibrahima Kone returned to haunt Kenya once again with his 55th-minute goal enough to hand the West Africans all three points.

Kone last Thursday was a thorn in the flesh for Harambee Stars defenders in Agadir, Morocco where he scored three goals in the 5-0 win.

The defeat effectively ended Kenya's 2022 World Cup dream as they now trail Mali with eight points. Only group winners proceed to the final qualifying round.

Mali remain top of Group E with 10 points after the win.

Uganda, who beat Rwanda 1-0 in Kampala, are second with eight points and will challenge leaders Mali for a place in the next qualifying round.

Rwanda and Kenya are out of the qualifiers with two matches left to play.

Harambee Stars head coach Engin Firat had made four changes to his first eleven for the return leg but luck would be hard to find as Kenya ended up losing their second straight match in a week.

Harambee Stars Squad

Brian Bwire, Erick Ouma, Aboud Omar, Johnstone Omurwa, Joseph Okumu, Richard Odada, Kenneth Muguna, Duke Abuya, Abdalla Hassan, Boniface Muchiri, Michael Olunga (C)

Subs

James Saruni, Faruk Shikalo, Joash Onyango, Ismael Gonzalez, David Owino, Eugene Asike, David Ambulu, Philip Mayaka, Lawrence Juma, Daniel Sakari, Henry Meja, Erick Kapaito