South Sudan Secures Historic Harambee Stars in International Friendly Match

South Sudan achieved a significant 1-0 victory over Kenya in an international friendly held at the Moi Sports Centre Kasarani. This triumph marked South Sudan’s first-ever win over their Kenyan neighbours in Nairobi.

Titto Okello, a Ugandan-born player, scored the decisive goal for the Bright Stars. At the same time, Kenya’s Harambee Stars struggled to replicate the exciting performance they displayed in the previous week’s 1-2 victory against Qatar in Doha.

The final whistle not only celebrated South Sudan’s remarkable win in the football world but also sparked a debate about Harambee Stars’ performance and readiness for the November 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The disappointment of Kenyan fans at Kasarani was evident, as they witnessed a notable drop in the team’s performance since the Qatar match.

In his eighth match as Harambee Stars’ coach, Engin Firat made a single change to the squad that played against Qatar, introducing Brian Mandela to partner Joseph Stanley Okumu in the centre-back position in the absence of Johnstone Omurwa.

The match’s defining moment came within the first minute when a miscalculated back pass by Okumu was seized upon by Okello, who promptly netted the opening goal past Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) goalkeeper Bryne Odhiambo.

Kenya responded with a series of attacks, earning nine corners in the first half. However, the South Sudan defence, displaying resilience, thwarted these attempts.

Elvis Rupia’s dynamic play on the right flank created opportunities, including a chance for Michael Olunga, but South Sudan’s goalkeeper Malik Majak denied Kenya’s efforts.

Richard Odada’s midfield performance was commendable, as he orchestrated moves that kept Kenyan forwards busy. Masoud Juma thought he had a penalty opportunity, but the referee continued the play.

Just before halftime, Okello had an opportunity to double the lead but fired the ball over the bar.

The second half saw Firat make changes, with Amos Nondi replacing Rupia. South Sudan maintained a solid defence, with Mawa Christopher excelling in stopping Kenyan forwards.

Kenya’s pursuit of an equalizer continued, leading to more substitutions by Firat. However, their efforts proved fruitless as the clock ticked away.

In the closing moments of the match, South Sudan had a chance to double their lead from a free-kick, but the shot went wide.

Harambee Stars had a final opportunity to level the score, but Nondi’s cross across the goal found no takers. The result raised questions about Kenya’s form and preparation for future competitions, while South Sudan celebrated a historic victory.