Kenya national team youngster Ryan Ogam scored late on to help struggling Harambee Stars secure a 1-1 draw against Eritrea in their matchday one of the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers at Nyayo National Stadium on Saturday. Substitute Ben
Stanley Omondi created the chance which enabled Kenya to snatch away a vital point in the 87th minute. Stanley moved forward with fans urging him on and time running out before delivering the cross which Ogam timed well before stabbing to the net.
Eritrea had taken a deserved lead in the 36th minute through Nahom Girmai Netabay. With lead striker Michael Olunga being axed just a day to the fixture owing to an injury, Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy trusted Ogam to lead the striking role.
Eritrea forward Ali Sulieman started a great move from their own half, but the Al Masry player decided to set up Ablelom Teklezgi, whose feeble shot was saved by Omondi. In the 16th minute, Omar and Job Ochieng exchanged neat passes allowing the Real Sociedad forward space to whip in a superb cross into the area, but Eritrea goalkeeper Yonathan Sultan did well to deny Kenya their first goal.
Kenya continued to assert their dominance and two minutes later, Ogam danced through the Eritrea defence, and quickly rounded off Sultan. With the empty net ahead of him, the former Tusker striker saw his attempted effort go inches wide.
Eritrea were forced into an early substitution in the 24th minute when defender Jemal Ali was unable to continue play following an injury and was replaced by Yosief Amanuel Misgina. In the 36th minute it was Eritrea, who broke the deadlock against the run of play to stun Harambee Stars. Nahom Girmai, who plays in Sweden for Degerfors IF, found the back of the net.
Goalkeeper Byrne Omondi tried to pass the ball to Okwaro, who was already under pressure, but Ali Suleiman pounced to intercept the ball and roll it to Girmai, who kept his composure to make it 1-0. The goal silenced the Kenyan crowd that had turned out to cheer the team that is using the qualifiers as part of their preparations for the 2027 AFCON to be co-hosted in East Africa.
