Mapinduzi Cup: Burkina Faso awaits as Kenya and Zanzibar battle for final spot
urkina Faso has already booked their place in the 2025 Mapinduzi Cup final after a commanding 2-0 victory over Tanzania. Now, the focus shifts to Harambee Stars and Zanzibar, who meet in a high-stakes clash at Gombani Stadium on tonight to decide the second finalist. With Kenya needing just a draw and Zanzibar playing on home soil, the stage is set for a thrilling encounter in Pemba Island.
Burkina Faso's qualification for the 2025 Mapinduzi Cup final with a commanding 2-0 win over Tanzania on Thursday has set up a thrilling showdown for Harambee Stars and Zanzibar. The two sides will clash on Friday night at Gombani Stadium, Pemba Island, vying for the remaining slot in Monday's final.
With seven points already in the bag, Burkina Faso leads the four-team tournament, while Kenya sits second with four points, just one ahead of third-placed Zanzibar. A draw would see Kenya advance, but Zanzibar, playing on home soil, is determined to defy the odds and create history.
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Doing the bare minimum against Zanzibar will not be straightforward for Harambee Stars, even with Kenya's historical dominance over the Indian Ocean islanders. In 41 matches, Kenya has won 31, drawn six, and lost only four, scoring an impressive 123 goals while conceding just 28. However, recent encounters suggest the gap has narrowed significantly.
The last seven meetings between the two nations have been closely contested, with each team claiming two victories and sharing the spoils on three occasions. Zanzibar’s last win over Kenya came during the 2015 CECAFA Cup in Ethiopia, where they stunned Harambee Stars 3-1. Notably, Friday’s match will be the first between the two sides in Zanzibar since October 3, 1970. On that historic occasion, Zanzibar achieved their first victory over Kenya with a 3-2 win during the CECAFA Cup.
As the Mapinduzi Cup commemorates the Zanzibar Revolution of 1964, the home side will be buoyed by the opportunity to inspire their younger generation of fans. Zanzibar’s players will no doubt be motivated to deliver a memorable performance on such a symbolic stage.
Harambee Stars coach Francis Kimanzi expects a challenging encounter. “We have had tough games so far, but the remaining one will be the most challenging because we will face the hosts,” Kimanzi remarked in his pre-match comments. He expressed satisfaction with the team’s progress but acknowledged that Friday’s match is the ultimate test of their preparations.
Against Tanzania, Kimanzi made six changes to his starting line-up, showcasing the team’s depth. Highly-rated midfielder Mohamed Bajaber is eager for an opportunity to shine, and Kimanzi is likely to rotate his squad again, balancing pragmatism with the need for a result.
Probable line-up: Bryne Odhiambo (GK) Ronney Onyango, Sylvester Owino, Alphonce Omija, Abud Omar, Chrispine Erambo, Brian Musa, Boniface Muchiri, Austine Odhiambo, Darius Msagha, Ryan Ogam.
