LIVE: Harambee Stars vs Eritrea – Starting XI, Score & How to Follow

Harambee Stars will begin their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualification campaign against Eritrea on Saturday September 26 as the two sides meet in a Group D opener.

Kenya will host the Red Sea Camels at the Nyayo national stadium in a match that gives Benni McCarthy’s side an opportunity to prepare for next year’s continental tournament while Eritrea will be looking to make a strong start to its qualification campaign.

The group also features South Africa and Guinea, with the teams set to face each other in two-legged fixtures.

Kenya’s place at the 2027 AFCON is already guaranteed regardless of their performance in the qualifiers. However, the results will determine the other qualifying place from Group D, with only the highest-ranked team among the other three sides securing a ticket to the tournament.

Here are live updates as the match unfolds:

4:00PM: Kenya vs Eritrea match kicks off

4:06 PM: Corner kick for Harambee Stars

4:08 PM: Kenya 0-0 Eritrea

4:11 PM: Ryan Ogam misses a chance

4:15PM — Match Statistics

Possession: Kenya 49% – 51% Eritrea
Big chances: Kenya 1 – 0 Eritrea
Touches in opposition box: Kenya 8 – 0 Eritrea
Total shots: Kenya 5 – 0 Eritrea
Shots off target: Kenya 2 – 0 Eritrea

4:16 PM: Foul for Eritrea

4:21 PM: Eritrea’s Teklegzi fouled

Kenya 0-0 Eritrea

4:23: Eritrea awarded a foul.

Eritrea makes first substitution Misignha J in Ali. J out

4:25: Ryan Ogam looses another big chance

4:26: Abud Omar is fouled

4: 29 PM: Onyango awarded a yellow card

4:37 PM: Girmai scores for Eritrea

4: 45PM: Three minutes added time

HALF TIME: Kenya0-1 Eritrea

Harambee Stars Starting XI vs Eritrea

Eritrea lineup

Eritrea Starting XI

Eritrea will line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation against Harambee Stars.

Goalkeeper

1 Yonathan Sultan

Defenders

25 Victor Lars
14 Namrud Embaye
3 Jonas Ibrahim
4 Ali Jemal

Midfielders

20 Nahom Girmai Netabay
7 Filmon Gebregzabihier
19 Yohannes Esrom Mussie
10 Ali Sulieman
8 Ablelom Teklezgi

Forward

9 Tesfaldet Tekie

Eritrea Substitutes

12 Yoel Kebreab
2 Mussie Beraky
5 Nahom Tadese Mekonen
11 Romel Abdu Mahmud
16 Henos Asmelash
17 Fahmi Ibrahim
18 Yoel Yilma
23 Maill Lundgren
26 Awet Alemseged
30 Issac Abusolomon Ayaya
31 Yonatan Sebhatu
33 Yosief Misgina

Kenya’s recent form

Harambee Stars head into the match after mixed results in their June friendly fixtures.

Kenya drew 1-1 with Lesotho before recording a 4-0 victory in the second leg.

However, preparations for the Eritrea match were disrupted by a player strike over unpaid allowances from the summer fixtures.

The Ministry of Sports resolved the dispute 48 hours before the match, leaving the team with limited time to prepare for the qualifier.

McCarthy will now be looking to assess his squad’s match fitness while working on the tactics and playing style he wants to use ahead of the AFCON tournament next year.