Michael Olunga Reveals What Harambee Stars Are Counting on to End Awful Away Record

Harambee Stars captain Michael Olunga has expressed his optimism that Kenya can finally end their disappointing away form as they prepare for decisive World Cup qualifiers against Burundi and Ivory Coast this month.

Kenya will first play Burundi in Bujumbura on Thursday before traveling to Abidjan to face the African champions next Tuesday. The Stars failed to win against either team in the earlier qualifying rounds, with both matches played on neutral ground in Malawi. Their struggles away from home have been evident, adding pressure on the team to deliver positive results this time around.

Olunga, who understands the magnitude of the challenge, admitted that facing Ivory Coast away will not be easy. However, he remains confident after Kenya managed to secure a valuable point against them in their previous encounter. “They are the African champions, and in the first game we took a point from them,” Olunga said, recalling the goalless draw in June 2024. “It was a fantastic match, the team played really well, and this is another opportunity to test ourselves in their own backyard.”

What Gives Olunga the Belief of Winning Away

Kenya’s record away from home, especially in West Africa, has been poor. Their most recent trip to the region ended in a 4-1 defeat to Cameroon during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in October 2024. Despite this, Olunga believes things are changing for the better under new head coach Benni McCarthy.

“It has always been tough to play in West Africa, the last games against Cameroon and Gabon were challenging and ended in defeat,” he said. “But with the new wave of belief and confidence in the national team, we’re optimistic about improving our away performances.”

Olunga, who remains Kenya’s main attacking threat, will be vital for the team in both matches, though he faces a late fitness test ahead of the Burundi clash. Even so, his determination and leadership continue to inspire the Harambee Stars as they seek to rewrite their away record and keep their World Cup dreams alive.