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Fans criticised Harambee Stars for failing to beat Burundi during their June World Cup qualifiers, but Muguna has revealed why football fans should not be quick to judge.
Harambee Stars midfielder Kenneth Muguna has shared his thoughts on Kenya's recent home 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against Ivory Coast and Burundi.
Despite being held to draws in both matches, Muguna believes the results were inevitable and not necessarily influenced by the location of the games.
Kenya played to a 0-0 draw with Ivory Coast and a 1-1 draw with Burundi, leaving them fourth in Group F with five points, trailing the group leaders by five.
The decision to play these matches away from home sparked considerable online debate, with many fans arguing that playing in Kenya could have turned the draws into victories. However, Muguna disagrees, citing the unpredictable nature of modern football.
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“You never know until it happens. I do not know if that is what made us not win. There are matches we have lost at home, others we have won away," Muguna told Buzz Sports.
"We won two games away in Malawi before that. We would have wanted to play there, but it was not possible. No stadia was available, but things happened as they happened. We hope that stadia will be available for use next time for us to do our assignments.”
Kenya's spirited performance against Ivory Coast was a particular point of pride for Muguna, who enjoyed testing his skills against top players like Frank Kessie and Seko Fofana.
“It was good. When growing up, I wanted to play these kinds of matches. It was good to test whether they were good enough for that level. We nearly even won that match. It was a good experience to test myself against the likes of (Franck) Kessie and (Seko) Fofana. It was a good match in general for everyone.”
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Despite being an established member of the team, Muguna emphasised the importance of continuous hard work to maintain his place in the squad.
“You have to work hard for the call-up. You have to work hard to earn your spot. You see how the U23s are doing well at the COSAFA Cup in South Africa. It is never easy.”
Harambee Stars faced criticism for failing to secure a win against Burundi after being in a winning position.
However, Muguna believes some of the criticism directed at the team has been unwarranted. “One thing people forget, these are international matches. If playing Burundi, you are playing the best there. If it is Ivory Coast, it is the same thing.
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13:59 - 03.07.2024
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“There is no small team in international football. You saw Italy losing to Switzerland at the Euros the other day. It is not easy. Yes, Burundi equalised in the last minute, but we held Ivory Coast to a draw. We did not get all the points we wanted against Burundi, but we have to move on and regroup.”
With their World Cup qualification hopes hanging in the balance, Kenya must win all their remaining matches to stand a chance of qualifying for their maiden World Cup.
Muguna and his teammates remain hopeful and focused on the task ahead, aiming to make history for their country.
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