‘I cried in the dressing room’ - Anthony Akumu after Harambee Stars' 2025 AFCON disappointment

Harambee Stars midfielder Anthony Akumu has opened up on the emotional toll of Kenya’s failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), revealing that he broke down in tears following a 1-1 draw with Zimbabwe that ended their qualification hopes.

The result at Polokwane’s Peter Mokaba Stadium back in November 2024 meant Kenya could no longer catch Zimbabwe in the Group J standings, extinguishing their hopes of making a return to Africa’s premier football competition.

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Akumu, who currently plies his trade in Iran, spoke candidly in an exclusive interview with Telecomasia.net, describing the moment as one of the most painful in his football journey.

“I had wanted to qualify because in 2019, I narrowly missed out on the final squad. It was painful not to make the cut, and missing out on qualification for this year’s tournament was even more painful,” Akumu said.

“I cried after the Zimbabwe match because I had wanted us to qualify. It meant a lot to me. It was tough to take for the team because we knew we had a chance.”

Now 32, Akumu remains hopeful that his dream of representing Kenya in an AFCON tournament will still come true, especially with the next edition in 2027 set to be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.

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The midfielder is focused on staying fit and competitive over the next two years to give himself the best shot at making the squad.

He expressed optimism about the national team’s future under new head coach Benni McCarthy, who took charge during the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign.

“I enjoyed playing under McCarthy in the last two games of the World Cup qualifiers. He is a great coach and knows what he is doing,” Akumu said.

“We played like that after just three sessions. Just imagine the change we will see when we train longer. I believe he will succeed with the national team because he has already shown what he can do.”

McCarthy’s contract runs through to the 2027 tournament, offering stability and a clear vision for Kenya’s footballing project. For Akumu, the goal is simple—stay in form and be part of it.

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The former Sagan Tosu midfielder has enjoyed a well-traveled career that has seen him represent top clubs across Africa and beyond.

He made his name at Gor Mahia, where his commanding midfield presence helped the team to several domestic titles. His performances earned him a move to Al Khartoum. Akumu later moved to ZESCO United in Zambia.

He then joined South Africa’s Premier Soccer League with Kaizer Chiefs, one of the continent’s most storied clubs, where he continued to shine in continental competitions, particularly in the CAF Champions League.

He then took his talents to Asia before signing with his current club, Kheybar Khorramabad FC, in Iran.