Kenya were nervous against South Sudan, says h**d coach Firat

Kenya head coach Engin Firat has blamed the team’s 2-1 friendly defeat against South Sudan on nervousness amongst his players.

After a superb display that saw Harambee Stars defeat Qatar 2-1 in another build-up away last week, the national team returned to action on Tuesday against the visiting Bright Stars and it was Kenya Police forward Tito Okello, who scored what turned out to be the winner in the second minute to silence the home side at Kasarani Stadium.

The defeat left many Kenyan fans questioning the display and dwindling levels of the national team but according to the 53-year-old Firat, it was just a friendly fixture and his players are in a learning process as they prepare for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

“In the first 10 minutes of the game, they (players) were very nervous and I really don’t know why, I don’t know if it is because we were playing at home for the first time in two years,” said Firat after the game, adding: “There was something lucking, we did not start well, we did not press South Sudan and giving away a goal with only two minutes played was not good for us at the end.”

South Sudan’s goal came via a mistake by defender Joseph Okumu, whose back pass to Brian Mandela was intercepted by Okello to slot home past goalkeeper Bryan Odhiambo but Firat was adamant the towering star, who features for Reims in French Ligue 1, was not to blame for the defeat.

“Joseph (Okumu) is one of the best defenders we have in the team, he rarely makes mistakes but sometimes this things happen in football, there are things you cannot avoid because they happen everywhere,” explained Firat,” adding: “I believe we are in a learning process ahead of the qualifiers, and I better lose in friendly matches but not in qualifiers, but I will definitely work on our creative because we have not been creative enough especially going forward.”

Another player, who struggled against the Bright Stars was lead striker and captain Michael Olunga, and Firat said on his display: “Olunga is one of the best I have ever coached in my entire career, I will be the last person to be worried of his form, he is so important to the team, as a player and a leader.”

He continued: “Remember against Qatar he set up the winning goal and picked an injury late on, however he still managed to play against South Sudan, he is a top a player with top quality and there is no need to panic on Olunga.”

Kenya used the friendly matches as part of their preparations for their upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers where they have been placed in Group F alongside Seychelles, Burundi, Gambia, Gabon, and Ivory Coast.