The Harambee Stars are set to face Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro Stars in a high-stakes Mapinduzi Cup match at Gombani Stadium in Zanzibar on Tuesday evening. This comes after a challenging 1-1 draw against Burkina Faso in their opening match on Saturday.
In their first game, Harambee Stars took an early lead through James Kinyanjui’s debut goal, but Burkina Faso’s Aboubakar Traore equalized in the 89th minute, denying Kenya a win. Coach Francis Kimanzi acknowledged the team’s mistakes and emphasized the need for quick improvements.
Meanwhile, Zanzibar secured a 1-0 victory over Tanzania Mainland, putting them at the top of the table. The Stars will need to bring their best game to the pitch to advance to the final and have a shot at the trophy.
Path to the Mapinduzi Cup Trophy
The Mapinduzi Cup is played on a league basis, featuring four national teams: Zanzibar, Kenya, Burkina Faso, and Tanzania. The top two teams with the most points at the end of the group stage will advance to the final, scheduled for January 13. The winners of the final will lift the coveted Mapinduzi Cup trophy and take home Sh6.25 million in prize money.
Harambee Stars captain Aboud Omar expressed confidence in the team’s ability to win the tournament, treating it as a test ahead of the upcoming African Nations Championship (CHAN). The Stars will need to secure victories in their remaining matches against Tanzania and Zanzibar to advance to the final and have a shot at the trophy.
The stage is set for an exciting clash, and all eyes will be on the Harambee Stars as they aim to bounce back from their draw and secure a spot in the final.
