Harambee Stars and Zanzibar Heroes ready for Friday Mapinduzi Cup battle

All eyes are on the upcoming Kenya-Zanzibar match in the Mapinduzi Cup, set for January 10, 2025 at the Gombani Stadium in Pemba.

Kenya currently leads the four-team tournament table with 4 points, ahead of Burkina Faso, who share the same points but trail by a goal difference of 1. Zanzibar sits in third place with 3 points from two matches.

In a pre-match conference, Harambee Stars head coach Francis Kimanzi expressed confidence in his team’s preparation. He highlighted the hard work and determination the players have shown during their training at Mapinduzi. Kimanzi believes the team’s performance improves after each match.

“We’ve been working hard in every game since we arrived. Our readiness is evident - we’re getting stronger after each match, and we’re very satisfied with the players' behaviour and character,” Kimanzi said.

He acknowledged that the upcoming match will be challenging, as Zanzibar will be playing on home turf. However, Kimanzi emphasized the importance of focusing on the team’s own strategy and adapting to the situation.

“We must respect our opponents, especially since they’re playing on their home ground, but what matters most is that we focus on what we’ve been doing as a team. We’ll adapt our strategy accordingly,” Kimanzi added.

Kimanzi remains optimistic, believing that focus and passion will be key to the team’s success in the tournament.

Echoing Kimanzi’s sentiments, defender Daniel Sakari expressed his belief in the team’s ability to win the cup. He noted the positive atmosphere in the camp and the players’ determination to perform well in the tournament and build momentum for the upcoming CHAN competition.

“Our performance has been improving. We started with a draw, then won our second game. We expect nothing less than a win, and we want to keep the momentum going. This is a build-up for the CHAN tournament,” said Sakari.

Matchday -1 💪#HarambeeStars #MapinduziCup2025 pic.twitter.com/aK6xIaX0I0

— Harambee Stars (@Harambee__Stars) January 9, 2025

Zanzibar’s coach, Ali Bakari, also spoke at the press conference, noting that his team is focused and back in shape after their 1-0 loss to Burkina Faso on January 6, 2025. The team had previously secured a 1-0 victory over Kilimanjaro Stars.

“We’re in good shape now. Our players are highly motivated because they understand the importance of the upcoming game against Kenya. As hosts, we owe it to our nation, and we’re determined to find a way to win tomorrow,” Bakari stated.

Kenya and Zanzibar have met 24 times, with Kenya winning 17 matches. Zanzibar has won 3 times, and the remaining encounters have ended in draws. The most recent match between the two sides took place on December 14, 2019, when Kenya won 1-0.

Kenya enters the match after bouncing back from a draw against Burkina Faso in their opening game, securing a win in their second match.