Harambee Stars held by Burundi in World Cup Qualifiers

Midfielder Duke Abuya stepped off from the bench to give Kenya a lead in the 72nd minute after fellow substitute Austine Odhiambo found him with a fine pass.

But the centre could not hold for Stars as The Swallows restored parity through substitute Abdallah Sudi who netted an equalizer in the 84th minute to deny the Kenyans crucial three points.

Harambee Stars remain third in the pool on four points following a 5-0 win against Seychelles and 2-1 loss to Gabon in the first two qualifying matches.

Africa champions Ivory Coast, who play Kenya next Tuesday, top the group on six points level with Gabon after two rounds.  

From the very start, it was evident that Kenya meant business. Their players dominated possession and relentlessly pressed forward. Burundi, however, stood firm, their defence solid as they coped with the pressure of Kenya's attacks.

The first half unfolded as a showcase of Kenya's offensive power. They tested the Burundi goalkeeper, forcing him to make crucial saves to keep his team in the game. But despite their best efforts, the halftime whistle blew with the scoreboard still reading 0-0, much to the frustration of the Kenyan supporters.

As the teams emerged from the locker rooms for the second half, Burundi had a renewed sense of determination. Sensing the need for a change in strategy, their coach made two crucial substitutions, injecting fresh energy into the side.

But Kenya would not be denied for long. In the 72nd minute, they finally broke the deadlock in spectacular fashion. Austin Odiambo orchestrated a brilliant move, threading a perfect pass through the Burundi defence to find Duke Abuya, who slotted the ball into the back of the net, sending the stadium into a frenzy of cheers and celebration.

However, Kenya's joy was short-lived. In the 85th minute, disaster struck in concentration from Kenya's substitute defender who gifted Burundi an opportunity to equalise.

Sudi Abdallah seized upon the mistake, pouncing on a loose ball and firing it past the outstretched arms of the Kenyan goalkeeper.

The match may have ended in a 1-1 draw, but Kenya still cannot celebrate since their next match is against Ivory Coast who are a tough opponent and that is a must win game for them.