In a thrilling friendly match that took place on Monday at the Mardan Sports Complex in Antalya, Turkey, Harambee Stars were poised for victory, only to have their hopes dashed by a late goal from Russia’s Ivan Oblyakov.
The match that ended in a 2-2 stalemate had kept Kenyan fans on the edge of their seats.
Russia took an early lead in the eighth minute when Spartak Moscow’s Alexander Sobolex found the back of the net, putting Harambee Stars on the back foot.
Stars’ coach, Engin Firat, had to make an early substitution when goalkeeper Byrne Odhiambo was forced off the field due to injury after just 13 minutes in. He was replaced by veteran Patrick Matasi who plays for Tusker FC.
Harambee Stars showed their resilience as Anthony Akumu leveled the score in the 16th minute. Shortly after, Masoud Juma fired the Stars ahead in the 36th minute.
However, Russia made a tactical change in the 27th minute, bringing in CSKA Moscow’s Ivan Oblyakov to strengthen their attack.
Captain Michel Olunga, who currently plays for Al-Duhail in Qatar, had a golden opportunity to extend Kenya’s lead towards the end of the first half, but his shot narrowly missed the target.
2026 World Cup Qualifiers
Early in the second half, Olunga almost put one in the back of the net when he found himself in a one-on-one moment with the Russian keeper Illya Pomuzan, further increasing the pressure on the Russian side.
Despite having less possession of the ball, Harambee Stars appeared comfortable defending their lead. They seemed poised to secure the win.
However, their hopes were dashed by a late equalizer from Ivan Oblyakov, who found the back of the net just three minutes before the final whistle.
This match marked Harambee Stars’ third friendly game, following a 2-1 victory over Qatar and a 1-0 loss to South Sudan last month.
With these friendlies behind them, the national team is now shifting their focus to the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Kenya has been placed in Group F, where they will compete against Ivory Coast, Gabon, Gambia, Burundi, and the Seychelles in their quest to secure a spot in the prestigious tournament.
