Kenya’s hopes of playing at next year’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco ended in smoke Friday night after a 1-1 draw with Zimbabwe in Polokwane. The draw meant Stars are now four points behind Zimbabwe at third place in Group J, and hence mathematically unable to battle for second with only one round of qualifying matches left.

Jonah Ayunga’s first goal in national team colors to cancel out Tawanda Maswanhise’s first half goal wasn’t enough, as Kenya lacked the cutting edge in the final third to pick a win and retain their hopes heading into next week’s finale against Namibia.

Scrutiny will now be on head coach Engin Firat especially with how he set up his team in the crucial duel against Zimbabwe, playing with two defensive midfielders and no creative brain to feed a front two of Ayunga and skipper Michael Olunga.

Stars were punished for missing a glorious chance after 32 minutes. Maswanhise swept the ball home from inside the box off a Khama Billiat pass, punishing Kenya with a quick switch of play from the other end.

Wingback Rooney Onyango had done everything right after drifting into the box from the right to find good shooting space, but he blasted his final effort over. From the quick restart, it was 1-0 for Zimbabwe.

It had been a closely contested opening half an hour of football, both sides with one clear scoring chance off errors. In the fifth minute, Olunga almost latched on a short backpass at the back, but Teenage Hadebe made a crucial last ditch tackle to distract the skipper off his final shot.

On the quarter hour mark, Khama Billiat pocked the ball through for Walter Musona after three Kenya defenders went for the same ball, but a swift running Johnstone Omurwa made a crucial block for a corner.

In the second half, Stars made changes, Joseph Okumu, who has been slowly returning from injury paving way for Tusker’s Charles Momanyi to make his debut. Duke Abuya also came in for Abud Omar.

A minute after these changes, Stars scored the equalizer, Ayunga slapping the ball home from close range after Olunga’s initial effort from an Eric Ouma cross was blocked by the keeper.

Despute the goal, Stars couldn’t crack a Zimbabwe side that decided to solidify the back and play for a point.

Firat’s men will now face Namibia next week as a formality, with Zimbabwe and Cameroon, both now qualified, playing for top spot.