Onana: Kenya are our biggest threat in Afcon qualifying race
Cameroon's goalkeeper Andre Onana takes part in a training session on the eve of their 2024 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) match against Nigeria, in Bingerville, on January 26, 2024.
What you need to know:
- Kenya beat Nambia 2-1 the same day and tops the group by four points, the same as Cameroon who have an inferior goal difference. Zimbabwe has two points after also playing out to a barren draw against Kenya and Cameroon.
As anticipation builds ahead of 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) Group ‘J’ qualifier match betwen Kenya and five-time champions Cameroon, Manchester United goalkeeper, Andre Onana, has said Harambee Stars is the only team capable of challenging the Indomitable Lions in the pool.
Indomitable Lions will host Kenya on October 7, with the reverse fixture taking place eight days later. Kenya, who beat Namibia 2-1 at Orlando Stadium in South Africa on Tuesday, are on top of the group with four points, same as Cameroon, who drew 0-0 with Zimbabwe in Kampala the same day.
Ahead of the encounter, Cameroon and Manchester United goalkeeper, Andre Onana, has said Kenya is the only team capable of making the Indomitable Lions sweat in the race to qualify for next year’s continental showpiece in Morocco.
“Kenya is the only team in our group that is giving us competition, but I hope we make it to the qualifying round. Zimbabwe’s game was a little bit hard but we came out with a good point,” Onana, 28, said on Tuesday at Mandela National Stadium in Namboole, Uganda after his team played out to a barren draw against Zimbabwe.
The Indomitable Lions defeated Namibia 1-0 in their opening match of the campaign at Stade Omnisports Roumdé Adjia in Garoua on Saturday.
Zimbabwe are third in the group with two points, while Namibia are last with no point. Only the top two teams in the 12 qualifier groups will clinch berths in the 2025 Afcon finals in Morocco.
Kenya have never beaten Cameroon in their past eight meetings. The indomitable Lions have won four matches, while the other four have ended in draws.
The two nations last met on January 9, 2010, in a friendly match in Nairobi that Cameroon won 3-1.
A bullish Harambee Stars coach Engin Firat has already warned Cameroon that his side won’t be a walk in the park when the two teams meet.
“Do you think we are easy?” posed Firat to a journalist at the Orlando Stadium after their win over Namibia on Tuesday.
“Cameroon should think about how they want to crack us. I am not afraid of them,” said the 54-year-old Turkish coach.
In Namboole, Manchester United fans had a chance to interact with Onana, some openly telling him to work on his blunders so that the team can win the English Premier League and the Uefa Europa League.
“I was amazed by the welcome and love shown to me by Manchester United fans here in Uganda,” added Onana.
Manchester United have made a poor start in the English Premier League with two defeats in their first three matches.
