Kenyan midfielder Teddy Akumu has disclosed failure to qualify for this year’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) was a painful experience, detailing that he shed tears in the dressing room after the team’s 1-1 draw with Zimbabwe in South Africa.
Kenya had to beat Zimbabwe in their penultimate Group J match to keep their qualification hopes alive, but a 1-1 draw at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane meant they couldn’t finish above the Southern Africans in second spot.
Akumu, currently based in Iran, exclusively told Telecomasia.net that he had really hoped to qualify for the 2025 showpiece after missing the cut in the final for the last AFCON Kenya qualified for in 2019.
I had really wanted to qualify because in 2019 I narrowly missed out on the final squad. It was painful not to make the cut and missing out on qualification for this year’s tournament was even more painful. I cried after the Zimbabwe match because I had really wanted us to qualify and it meant a lot for me. It was tough to take for the team because we knew we had a chance to do so.
The midfielder, currently 32, hopes to maintain his shape and remain competitive to raise his hand for selection for the 2027 showpiece which will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. He believes that new coach Benni McCarthy has brought a new breath of fresh air into the team and they will succeed.
I really enjoyed playing under McCarthy in the last two games in the World Cup qualifiers. He is a great coach and really knows what he is doing. We played like that after just three sessions. Just imagine the change we will see when we train longer? I believe he will succeed with the national team because he has already shown what he can do.
McCarthy’s contract with Kenya runs right until the 2027 Cup of Nations. Akumu’s hope now is to maintain his performance at top level for the next two years.
