Kenya Outclassed by Cameroon in 4-1 AFCON Qualifiers Defeat

Cameroon's commanding 4-1 victory over Kenya in the AFCON qualifiers highlighted the significant gap between the two teams, which are 49 places apart in the FIFA rankings. The win reinforces the West African nation's  position at the top of Group J.

Kenya, ranked number 102, went down early to Vincent Aboubakar’s penalty. This set the tone for the match, where Harambee Stars struggled to keep up with the pace and skill of their opponents, who are ranked 53^rd.

First Half Highlights

The match kicked off with Cameroon quickly gaining control, pressing Kenya deep into their half. In the 9^th minute, Cameroon took the lead after Vincent Aboubakar converted a well-placed penalty. The penalty was awarded following a handball by Kenyan defender, Eric Ouma, inside the box. Aboubakar calmly slotted the ball past Kenyan goalkeeper Patrick Matasi, giving Cameroon an early lead.

The match saw an unfortunate delay due to a collision between Kenyan defender Joseph Owino and Cameroon’s Wooh Christopher. Christoper was stretchered off the field with a head injury and replaced by Jean-Charles Castelletto. Play eventually resumed in the 17^th minute and Cameroon  got back to attacking  with intensity.

Kenya’s goalkeeper Patrick Matasi came to the rescue in the 27^th minute, making a crucial save after Aboubakar dribbled through Kenyan defenders to unleash a powerful shot as the host kept up the pressure. A free kick in the 30^th minute, taken by Zambo Anguissa after a reckless foul by Kenyan defender Amos Nondi, came close but failed to find the target. Nondi was cautioned with a yellow card for his tackle.

Cameroon finally doubled their lead in the 39^th minute. Frank Zambo Anguissa danced through the Kenyan right hand side with a skillful dribble, he lost the ball in a challenge only for Martin Hongla to pounce on the loose ball, his shot surprisingly beat Matasi. This goal put Cameroon 2-0 ahead.

Harambee Stars briefly regained hope just two minutes later when captain Michael Olunga scored with a clever header. Eric Ouma’s perfectly curved free kick found Olunga, who flicked the ball past Cameroonian goalkeeper Andre Onana to reduce the deficit to 2-1.

However, the joy for Kenya was short-lived, as Cameroon responded immediately. In the 42^nd minute, Bryan Mbeumo found the back of the net with a quick strike after receiving a cross from the left wing. This put Cameroon up 3-1 heading into halftime, dashing Kenya’s hopes of  a comeback.

The first half ended with Cameroon firmly in control, having dominated possession and shown superior ball distribution. While Kenya managed to score, they struggled to maintain possession and deal with Cameroon’s fluid and organised attack.

Second Half Action

Kenya made a change at halftime, bringing on Joseph Okumu to replace the booked Amos Nondi. The substitution aimed to tighten Kenya’s defense, but Cameroon’s offensive threat persisted. In the 46^th minute, Cameroon’s Mbeumo nearly added another goal, but Ouma was quick to make a vital clearance.

Kenya seemed to settle better into the game early in the second half. They showed more control, attempting to press Cameroon into their defensive third. However, Cameroon’s solid defence and shape denied Kenya any clear chances.

In the 54^th minute, Cameroon extended their lead to 4-1 through veteran Christian Bassogog. After a well-executed run and through pass from Martin Hongla, Bassogog tapped the ball into the net, leaving Matasi helpless. This goal essentially sealed the win for the home side, who continued to look dominant in every aspect of the game. Again, it was another chance created on Kenya’s right hand side.

Kenya's hopes of closing the gap were dashed in the 60t^h minute when Timothy Ouma's shot went wide. A tactical change was made, bringing on John Avire to replace Ouma in order to improve attacking efforts.

In the 73^rd minute, Kenya earned a free kick just outside Cameroon’s 18-yard box after Anthony Akumu was fouled. John Avire stepped up to take the free kick, but his well-struck effort was brilliantly saved by Onana, maintaining Cameroon’s three-goal cushion.

The final quarter of the second half saw Kenya hold onto more possession, but they struggled to create clear goal-scoring opportunities. The match was less intense at this stage, with both teams playing cautiously. Kenya seemed to have settled, but they lacked the cutting edge needed to threaten the home side’s goal.

In the 86^th minute, Kenya made another substitution, with Erambo replacing Richard Odada, who had to leave the pitch after picking up an injury. Despite Kenya’s late push, Cameroon’s defense remained resolute, and the Indomitable Lions comfortably held onto their lead.

The match ended with a 4-1 victory for Cameroon. The referee added four minutes of injury time, but Kenya couldn’t find a way past Cameroon’s organized backline. The Indomitable Lions finished the game with nine attempts on goal, five of which were on target, while Kenya managed six attempts with only two on target.

With this win, Cameroon moved to the top of Group J with seven points, strengthening their position for AFCON qualification. Kenya remains third in the group with four points, and they will need to regroup for their next fixture to stay in the race for qualification.

This was the ninth encounter between the two teams, and the Indomitable Lions extended their unbeaten streak against Harambee Stars. Cameroon set a new record against Kenya by scoring the most goals in a single match (4), surpassing their previous high of 3 goals against Kenya.

For Kenya, the standout player was Eric Ouma, whose defensive work and set-piece deliveries were key. Captain Michael Olunga’s goal gave Kenya a glimmer of hope, but they were ultimately outplayed by a stronger Cameroon side.

The Kenyan team will need to address their defensive issues and improve their ball retention if they are to challenge in the return fixture on Monday. Cameroon, on the other hand, will be pleased with their solid performance and will look to build on this momentum to stay top of Group J.

Feature Image Credit: Simon Holmes