Pride in defeat as Harambee Sambas take first steps on AFCON Futsal stage

 Kenya went down 7–10 to Namibia in the second leg at the Kasarani Indoor Arena on January 28, sealing an 18–11 aggregate defeat following a 4–8 loss in the first leg away.

Despite the exit, Omondi was full of praise for his players, stressing that history was made simply by taking part.

“I’m proud of the boys. This is the first time they are playing AFCON qualifiers, and that alone is commendable,” he said. Facing a Namibian side with years of experience at the continental level, Kenya showed flashes of quality and resilience, particularly in front of an enthusiastic home crowd after the Football Kenya Federation waived entry fees to boost support."

The coach explained that the game plan was built around learning from the first leg. “We played away and lost 8–4, so we were looking to play in their half. It worked,” Omondi noted. However, the gap in experience ultimately told.

 “At that level, a simple mistake and you are punished. That is what killed us,” he admitted, pointing to the fine margins that separate developing teams from established futsal nations.

Omondi was quick to highlight what sets Namibia apart. “They have had a running league for the last 15 years. They have a professional futsal league,” he said, underlining the structural advantage that has allowed Namibia to compete regularly at AFCON. For Kenya, he believes the lesson is clear. “Now we need to invest more in futsal here at home, and definitely improvement will be there.”

Futsal remains a relatively new discipline in Kenya, but momentum is building. The Sambas have undergone intensive training camps, and the country has already tasted success, winning the Asian Futsal Cup in Colombo in May 2025. Omondi believes consistency is the missing link.

“FKF have embraced futsal. It is now time for us to also have a futsal league so that guys can be playing consistently,” he said.

While the AFCON dream ends here, the journey feels like it has only just begun. For Kenya’s futsal pioneers, this painful lesson could yet be the spark that ignites long-term growth and continental competitiveness.