Anthony Akumu, a seasoned midfielder for Kenya’s Harambee Stars, has spoken candidly about the heartbreak of missing out on the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The 32-year-old, who was part of Kenya’s squad during their last AFCON appearance in 2019, described the failure to qualify for this year’s tournament as one of the toughest moments of his career.
Kenya’s qualification hopes were dashed in Group J, where they faced Cameroon, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. Despite a promising start with a 2-1 victory over Namibia and a hard-fought 0-0 draw against Zimbabwe, the campaign unraveled after back-to-back losses to Cameroon. A 3-1 defeat in Douala and a narrow 1-0 loss in Uganda left Kenya needing a win in their penultimate match against Zimbabwe. However, a 1-1 draw sealed their fate, allowing Zimbabwe to secure the second qualification spot behind Cameroon.
Akumu reflected on the disappointment, saying, “I cried after the Zimbabwe match because I had really wanted us to qualify. It meant so much to me and the team. We knew we had a chance, but it just didn’t happen.”
Looking Ahead to 2027
Despite the setback, Akumu remains optimistic about Kenya’s future under new head coach Benni McCarthy. The South African tactician took over earlier this year and has already shown glimpses of his potential to transform the team. In recent World Cup qualifiers, Kenya drew 3-3 with Gambia and narrowly lost 2-1 to Gabon—performances that highlighted McCarthy’s tactical acumen despite limited preparation time.
Akumu praised McCarthy’s impact: “He is a great coach who knows what he is doing. We only had three sessions before those matches, but you could already see the improvement. Imagine what we can achieve with more time under him.”
Kenya’s next major target is the 2027 AFCON, which they will co-host alongside Uganda and Tanzania. With home advantage and McCarthy at the helm, there is renewed hope that Harambee Stars can not only qualify but also make a deep run in the tournament. Akumu has vowed to stay fit and competitive in hopes of being part of that journey: “I want to be there in 2027. It’s an opportunity for us to show what Kenyan football is capable of.”
