NYENDE: How far can Harambee Stars go this time?

What a contrast! Mighty Black Stars of Ghana celebrated like they had won the World Cup when they scored the solitary goal in their 2019 Africa Cup of Nations final Group F qualifier match against minnows Kenya at Accra Sports Stadium last Saturday.

On the other hand, Kenyan players were left deflated after defending superbly for most of the match, only to concede the goal late, late on, that can largely be blamed on poor goalkeeping by Patrick Matasi.

In truth, this was a poor Ghanaian side that struggled to break down a resolute but unadventurous Kenyan outfit clearly in the west coast of Africa to play for a draw that would have seen them retain top spot in their group.

The quality of that game deserved a barren draw. No wonder Kenya felt hard done by the loss. Apart from the Andre Ayew’s disallowed goal – which to my mind was a wrong call by the referee – there was nothing to separate the two sides.

The Ghanaians may argue that they did not have their proven goal getter and long-term captain Asamaoh Gyan (Kayserispor, Turkey), midfield organiser Kwadwo Asamoah (Inter Milan, Italy) and in-form forward Jeffery Schlupp (Crystal Palace, England).

Kenyans can counter that lethal goal getter Michael Olunga (Kashiwa Reysol, Japan), speedy winger Ayub Timbe (Beijing Renhe, China) and defence bulwark Brian Mandela (Maritzburg United, South Africa) did not play.

Both teams had already qualified for the finals that will be held in Egypt from June 21 to July 19 and were playing for group positions.

That aside, this biennial African showpiece will for the first time in history feature 24 teams as opposed to the usual 16.

Already, there is a lot of chest thumping from those who run the game in the country on Kenya’s feat – qualifying for the first time since 2004. Followers of the team are wallowing in euphoria in the knowledge that Harambee Stars are now among Africa’s best 24 teams.

Fair enough, but it would be good to remember that Kenya has been there before, and in more impressive fashion.

Stars qualified for three consecutive finals, in 1988 and 1990 when the tournament was an eight-nation affair and had an established order that had giants Cameroon, Morocco, Egypt, Nigeria, Algeria, Cote d’Ivoire and Senegal at the top, and in 1992 when the competition expanded to a 12-country contest.

Meaning, for more than half a decade Kenya was amongst the top playing nations in Africa.

That was our level and we have no business jumping up and down in excitement for being classified as among the 24 best teams in Africa.

Instead, coach Sebastien Migne and his troops should appreciate there is a lot of work to be done before the action begins in June.

A round of 16 qualification should be his minimum goal. Making the quarter-final, now, that would be more like the level of Kenya.

With Migne instilling the French organization in the team, Olunga firing with precision, and Victor Mugabe playing like he was wearing a Tottenham Hotspur jersey, Kenya can be the dark horses of the 2019 Afcon tournament.