Harambee Stars were on the verge of a well-deserved victory when Ivan Oblyakov struck a late goal, resulting in a 2-2 draw with Russia in a friendly match played at the Mardan Sports Complex in Antalya, Turkey on Monday.
Russia took an early lead in the eighth minute when Spartak Moscow’s Alexander Sobolev found the back of the net. Harambee Stars coach Engin Firat was forced into an early substitution as goalkeeper Bryne Odhiambo was injured and replaced by Patrick Matasi just after 13 minutes.
Captain Michael Olunga, who plies his trade with Al-Duhail in Qatar, had a clear chance to secure a third goal for Kenya before the halftime break, but his shot went wide.
The towering striker was once again on target five minutes into the second half, scoring in a one-on-one situation against Russian goalkeeper Illya Pomuzan.
Although the European side dominated possession, Harambee Stars comfortably absorbed the pressure and were poised for the win until Oblyakov’s goal in the final three minutes, resulting in a 2-2 draw.
This match marked Harambee Stars’ third friendly, following a 2-1 victory over Qatar and a 1-0 loss to South Sudan last month.
The national team will now shift their focus to the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers, with Kenya placed in Group F alongside Ivory Coast, Gabon, Gambia, Burundi, and the Seychelles.
