Kenya’s Harambee Stars were held to a 1-1 draw by Eritrea in their AFCON 2027 qualifier played at Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi on Saturday, September 26, 2026.
The result enabled Kenya to earn a point on home soil after coming from behind in the second half, with Ryan Ogam finding the back of the net to restore parity.
Kenyan fans celebrating after Harambee stars scoring
Eritrea took the lead in the first half through Nahom Girmai Netabay, capitalizing on Kenya’s struggles to build play from the back. The visitors looked dangerous during the opening period and managed to put pressure on the Kenyan defense.
Kenya, meanwhile, found it difficult to create clear-cut chances and struggled to maintain a consistent attacking rhythm. Eritrea’s pressure also exposed gaps in the Harambee Stars’ build-up play, forcing goalkeeper Byrne to make a crucial save that kept Kenya within touching distance of the visitors.
The hosts returned for the second half with renewed determination and began pushing forward in search of an equalizer. Kenya created several opportunities but were unable to convert their chances as Eritrea continued to defend their lead.
Their persistence eventually paid off when Ryan Ogam scored in the second half to level the score to 1-1. The equalizer lifted the home crowd and gave Kenya momentum as they searched for a winning goal.
Despite efforts from both sides, neither team could find a decisive second goal before the final whistle, with the contest ending in a 1-1 draw.
The result means Harambee Stars leave the fixture with one point from their home encounter against Eritrea as their AFCON 2027 qualifying campaign continues.
Harambee Stars players applauding their fans
Kenya will now turn its attention to the remaining fixtures in the qualifying campaign, with the team expected to build on the performance and improve in front of goal as the race for a place at the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations continues.