Firat identifies main downside with Harambee Stars after lacking out on AFCON ticket – Individuals Each day

After failing to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals, head coach Engin Firat has recognized a significant downside he says Harambee Stars are affected by.

Following a 1-1 draw towards Zimbabwe in Polokwane, South Africa, on Friday, November 15, 2024, Kenya’s dream of reaching the finals got here to an finish.

Now, Firat says Kenya’s fundamental downside is an absence of potential to attain objectives and that he wished he would have solved it earlier. He additionally analysed the sport and mentioned each groups gave a battle.

“The recreation performed out as we anticipated. Zimbabwe, as we knew, first stayed deep, enjoying lengthy balls to their quick gamers on counterattacks.

“I feel either side gave an enormous battle, but it surely’s like a pink line for us that we don’t use our purpose possibilities and are additionally injured like we noticed with Joseph Okumu.

“It’s clear that we have a goal-scoring problem that we need to find a solution to if we are to move up to a higher level. I wish we could have solved the problem better earlier, but we couldn’t change it,” Firat mentioned in his post-match convention.

The Turkish tactician mentioned he understands the frustration that got here with the failure to qualify for AFCON finals however there may be nothing he can inform his gamers after the draw that noticed The Warriors qualify.

“There is nothing I can say to the boys. They tried all the pieces until the final second. They deserved extra. In the tip, that is soccer and you’ll’t change all the pieces.

“I can understand the frustration that comes with that back home as we wanted to go there. As I said, there’s nothing I can say about the players who did their best,” he added.

At some level, the coach sounded smug saying that Kenya ought to cease dreaming as a result of he had recognized the issues with the nation’s soccer earlier than. 

“But for us possibly we’ve got to understand what we’ve got and cease dreaming. We know concerning the many occasions I’ve had an issue with our soccer. It’s even getting worse. We want to take a look at actuality and as a substitute of all we would like, ask with what.

“Things on the outside can always change, but our record in this tournament explains everything,” he concluded.

Cameroon and Zimbabwe certified for the finals whereas Kenya and Namibia, the crew they face subsequent, missed out from Group J.