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VEN
Harambee Stars midfielderhas opened up about what qualifying for the (AFCON) would mean to him personally.
For Akumu, who was part of the initial training squad during Kenya’s last AFCON campaign in 2019, but missed the final cut, the upcoming qualifiers offer a unique shot at redemption.
Kenya’s road to AFCON has been anything but smooth, with two recent defeats to Cameroon dimming their chances.
Harambee Stars are expected to face challenging conditions in Polokwane as severe rain disrupts both teams’ preparations ahead of Friday’s crucial AFCON qualifier against Zimbabwe with more rain forecasted.
However, critical matches against Zimbabwe on November 15 and Namibia on November 19 at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, South Africa, provide a crucial pathway to the tournament in Morocco.
The Harambee Stars currently sit third in Group J with four points, trailing leaders Cameroon, who have 10 points, and Zimbabwe, who hold second place with eight points. Victories in these must-win games are essential for Kenya to stay in contention for their first AFCON appearance since 2019.
The former Harambee Stars full-back says the Turkish gaffer has gambled with the squad but failed to produce results and should there stick to the tried and tested.
Reflecting on his disappointment in 2019, Akumu shared, «Personally, it will mean a lot to me because the last time we qualified, I was in the preliminary squad but didn’t make the final cut. This time, if we qualify, it will mean so much more.» Akumu vividly recalls the pain of missing out on representing his country at AFCON—a goal he now hopes to fulfill.
Akumu urged fans to keep their faith, stating, «They need to support us. They should not lose hope in us. We will give our best as always.» He highlighted the team’s preparations leading up to the qualifiers, including several friendlies, as a valuable learning experience.
«Some results were not in our favour, but we move on and pick the positives from those defeats to fuel us to do well this time around.»
In an interview last September, The former Gor Mahia midfielder had emphasised his determination, saying, «I am hungry to qualify for the Cup of Nations. In 2019, I was there but missed out on the chance to be in the final team. This is another opportunity, and I am ready to give my best to ensure we qualify.»
Confident in Kenya’s squad, he added, «We have so many good players and a lot of support to make this dream come true.»
With the stakes higher than ever, Akumu and the Harambee Stars are hopeful that their efforts will see them through to Morocco, offering the midfielder a long-awaited chance to fulfill his AFCON aspirations.
