The clash between Kenya’s Harambee Stars and Zimbabwe’s Warriors ended in a goalless draw on Friday afternoon at the Mandela National Stadium in Kampala.
The match, part of the African Cup of Nations qualifiers, was marked by physical play, frequent fouls, and missed scoring opportunities.
Harambee Stars dominated possession for much of the match, creating numerous scoring chances.
However, the Warriors’ resolute defence and the rough nature of the game prevented them from finding the net.
After the final whistle, Harambee Stars coach Engin Firat expressed frustration with the referee’s performance, accusing them of bias in favour of the Warriors.
Firat claimed that the official’s decisions were skewed, including the awarding of red and yellow cards to Harambee Stars players even when their goalkeeper was injured.
“The referee should be the one defending teams,” Firat said. “I observed numerous situations where the players used their hands to play the ball, and the referee favoured Zimbabwe.”
Despite the draw, there were notable performances from both sides. Harambee Stars’ Odhiambo Otieno and Eric Johana Omondi impressed, while Zimbabwe’s Khama Billiat and John Gerald Tungamirai stood out.
Firat also took the opportunity to criticize Kenya’s sports infrastructure, suggesting that it hinders the country’s football development. Both coaches praised Uganda’s stadium, citing it as one of the best in Africa.
