Michael Olunga Reveals What Harambee Stars Are Counting on to End Awful Away Record

Harambee Stars captain Michael Olunga understands how difficult a job they have in their next fixtures as they play their final World Cup qualifiers this month.

Kenya have two away matches, first against Burundi in Bujumbura on Thursday, before facing Ivory Coast in Abidjan next Tuesday.

They did not get a win when they hosted both teams, although that was away from Kenya, when they played in Malawi, but they also do not have a good record on enemy territory.

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Asked about facing the African champions away, Olunga admitted it is an uphill task but counted on the fact that they did not lose against them last time out.

“They are the African champions and in the first game we took a point [from them],” Olunga told the media, pointing to the goalless draw against the Ivorians in June 2024.

“A really fantastic game. The team played quite well so it is another opportunity to go and face them in their own backyard.”

Harambee Stars have an awful record against West African teams with their overall results on the road also not impressive. Their recent visit to West Africa ended in a 4-1 defeat to Cameroon in a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in October 2024.

Olunga is alive to this fact but is counting on the new-found belief in the national team under coach Benni McCarthy.

“It has been difficult to play in West Africa, the last time we were there against Cameroon and Gabon they ended in defeat but we hope that we can change the tide. With the new wave in the national team, we hope we can perform better in away matches,” he added.

Olunga is among the players McCarthy will be relying on for goals in both games but he will need to pass a late fitness test.