Kenya head coach Engin Firat has admitted beating Qatar 2-1 in an international friendly was not as important “for me” as how the team played in the fixture at Al Janoub Stadium on Thursday.
Harambee Stars registered the historic result after goals in either half courtesy of Joseph Okumu and Amos Nondi condemned the hosts, who hosted the 2022 World Cup, to defeat in their own backyard. After a strong start, Kenya took a deserved lead in the 20th minute when the towering Okumu, who features for French club Reims, rose the highest to head in a corner from Kenneth Muguna.
However, Qatar levelled matters in the 34th minute when Hassan Al-Haydos converted from the penalty spot sending goalkeeper Byrne Odhiambo the wrong way but it was Harambee Stars, who carried the day after captain Michael Olunga orchestrated a brilliant assist to Nondi, who had replaced Masoud Juma with 20 minutes left to the final whistle, to tap the ball to an empty net in the 91st minute.
Read Also: Substitute Nondi on target as Kenya dims Qatar in friendly
Asked about what he takes from the result, the 53-year-old Firat told People Sports: “Result is not important to me, I know people are talking about the result but to me, it is very important how you play, and everybody who watched the game, especially in the first half, we played real fantastic from behind, how we changed the sides, how we passed and Qatar had zero chance to press us and they got frustrated.”
He added: “We got our goal chances and it was only a question of time when to score, so we have done it and for me is very important, what we play and how we play at the international level so what I get most from the matches is everybody, these means players and FKF are seeing how in Qatar what means in infrastructure, and what means professional football.”
Harambee Stars, who jetted back into the country on Saturday, will face South Sudan in another friendly at Kasarani Stadium on Tuesday. Kenya are using the build-ups as part of their preparations for upcoming competitive assignment, the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers where they are pooled in Group F alongside Seychelles, Burundi, Gambia, Gabon, and Ivory Coast.