Zimbabwe coach achieves AFCON qualification in three months as Kenya still wait three years into Engin Firat’s tenure

Engin Firat’s reign as Harambee Stars coach is in the spotlight after Zimbabwe's German tactician Michael Nees achieved in three months what the Turkish mentor has not managed in three years.

Harambee Stars players and fans are licking their wounds after failing to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations for the third straight edition.

Kenya’s journey to AFCON 2025 ended on Friday when they drew 1-1 with Zimbabwe and they will now watch the tournament at home just like the 2021 and 2023 editions as they await the 2027 event, which they have already qualified by virtue of being co-hosts alongside Uganda and Tanzania.

By contrast, Zimbabwe are back to the tournament after missing the 2023 event under similar circumstances as Kenya, having been to the 2021 edition that was hosted by Cameroon.

Both Kenya and Zimbabwe were locked out of the qualifiers for the 2023 edition owing to a FIFA ban but after the lifting of the suspension, Zimbabwe seem to have made progress while Kenya have regressed.

It is even more damning given between the two teams, Kenya have enjoyed the stability of one coach since their ban was lifted while Zimbabwe coach Michael Nees was appointed at the end of July just before the AFCON qualifiers started in September.

Kenya not reaped benefits of stability in the dugout

Engin Firat was first appointed in November 2021, on an initial three-month deal, before his contract was extended, tying him until March 2026, and he promised to ensure Kenya qualify for AFCON 2025.

However, it is Nees, a man who has been in the job for just over three months, heading to Morocco, and not Firat, whose tenure now spans three years.

Following their missed opportunity, Firat reverted to type, aiming a dig at Kenyans for expecting too much when the environment does not favour it.

“In Kenya, it’s only we want, we want, we want. By giving what? In three years, we have never played a match at home [in Kenya]; show me another nation that has gone through that. We have no fans, nothing, we have no support,” Firat said after Friday’s match.

“We don’t even have a training field in Kenya. Show me one training field. Which training field can you compare to another country?

“As long as we don’t solve these problems, what would you want to do? Do we change something, federation change? Coach change? What will change at the end? Nothing. There is a reason why the national team did not qualify for the last two AFCONs.”

Similar problems but Zimbabwe are celebrating

While a lot of what he said is true, his approach in games has not inspired confidence among fans and it appears even his players.

Under Firat, Kenya have largely been defensive, playing with the handbrake on, even against teams they should easily beat, and the results have been three competitive wins in three years.

On the rare occasion when he played at home, albeit in a friendly match, Harambee Stars lost against South Sudan at Kasarani Stadium last September. Firat’s tenure has simply not been good enough even if he has some legitimate concerns.

To put it into perspective, Nees similarly walked into a chaotic situation in Zimbabwe. Appointed by a Normalisation Committee, the Warriors had not won their three World Cup qualifiers, after two draws and a loss, while he had one month to assemble a team for the AFCON qualifiers.

Still, he has managed to go unbeaten with a goalless draw with Kenya, when Firat played without a striker in September, followed by another 0-0 with Cameroon and then 1-0 and 3-1 victories past Namibia before the match on Friday.

Like Kenya, Zimbabwe have also been playing their home matches away, first in Kampala, Uganda and then Polokwane, South Africa while he has still managed to get a tune out of his players.

He also managed to convince Khama Billiat to return and the former Kaizer Chiefs striker repaid the faith with good performances, including the winner in the 1-0 victory over Namibia.

Inventive Michael Nees, rigid Engin Firat

“I always felt there was a player missing behind the striker who can make a difference. They were all good footballers, powerful but there was something like a creative heart missing. I know Khama from his football career and I observed when he was back in Zimbabwe then I approached him and the club,” Nees explained how he got Billiat back into the national team.

With little time to prepare given the congested nature of the qualifiers, Nees was also clever in his selections and ensured his tactics fitted with the profile of the players at his disposal.

Foreign-based stars like Teenage Hadebe (FC Cincinnati), Jordan Zemura (Udinese) Marvelous Nakamba (Luton Town), Marshall Munetsi (Stade de Reims) and Andy Rinomhota (Cardiff City) were complemented by a host of local-based players and with Zimbabwe also lacking good pitches, he had to change his playing style.

“It cannot be a fluent passing game like it would be on a nice pitch. So, we have to recognise that and this is where local players who can use the conditions better have a role to play,” Nees told the BBC in September.

“I can talk about philosophies, about playing nice football, but we must be realistic. We must look to find the right approach which could unlock the undeniable talent and potential of the Zimbabwean players.”

Firat, meanwhile, has been chopping and changing and even three years on, he appears still not sure of his best XI. The results are there for everyone to see.

Zimbabwe on the other hand, under similar circumstances, with a coach who has been in the job for three months, are celebrating AFCON qualification with a match to spare.