Kevin Otiende 'Delighted' with Harambee Stars Debut Despite Equatorial Guinea Loss

Nairobi United defender Kevin Otiende enjoyed a landmark moment on Friday as he made his senior Harambee Stars debut, playing the full 90 minutes in Kenya’s 1-0 friendly loss to Equatorial Guinea at the Emir Complex in Antalya, Turkey.

For Otiende, the match marked the beginning of what he hopes will be a promising international career. “It feels great to get my first call-up and to play a full game at this level,” he said. 

“The experience of training and playing alongside seasoned players has been invaluable. Many of these players I used to watch from afar, so being part of the team now is an amazing opportunity.”

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The young left-back, who has impressed with his performances for Nairobi United, now aims to push established Harambee Stars regulars Abud Omar and Eric Ouma for the starting left-back position. 

“Competition is healthy and it pushes everyone to be better. I look forward to learning more and improving with every game,” Otiende added.

Despite his encouraging debut, Kenya fell short against Equatorial Guinea, losing 1-0 to a contentious penalty awarded before halftime. 

Forward Jonah Ayunga expressed frustration over the defeat, calling the penalty decision “50/50” and emphasizing the need for the team to capitalize on their own chances.

“We haven’t had a chance to review if it was a penalty or not,” said Ayunga. “From where I was standing, it looked like a normal challenge, but the referee made his call.”

Ayunga, who partnered with Ryan Ogam up front, had several opportunities to level the score but was thwarted by the opposing goalkeeper and a disallowed offside goal. “We created good chances, especially in the first half, but we need to be more clinical in front of goal,” he reflected.

Defensively, Kenya showed resilience, limiting Equatorial Guinea to few clear-cut chances apart from the penalty. Otiende’s composed performance at left-back was part of a solid defensive effort, suggesting that the team is building a stable foundation.

Looking ahead, Harambee Stars face a stern test against reigning Africa Cup of Nations champions Senegal in their next international friendly on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at the Mardan Sports Complex in Antalya. 

This match will be a key indicator of Kenya’s progress as they prepare for upcoming qualifiers and tournaments.