Kenya forward Ryan Ogam struck three minutes from time as the Harambee Stars fought back to secure a 1-1 draw with Eritrea in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the Nyayo National Stadium on Saturday.
Kenya looked set to suffer defeat after Eritrea took the lead in the 36th minute, but substitute Ben Stanley Omondi created the opening for Ogam to restore parity in the 87th minute.
Omondi surged forward before delivering a cross into the area, with Ogam reacting quickly to stab the ball past the Eritrean defence and rescue a point for the hosts.
Eritrea had gone ahead after Kenya goalkeeper Omondi’s attempted pass to Manzur Okwaro under pressure was intercepted by Ali Suleiman.
Suleiman then found Nahom Girmai Netabay, who calmly converted the opportunity to put the visitors 1-0 ahead.
Kenya had threatened before conceding, with Ogam coming close in the 18th minute after beating the Eritrean defence, only for his effort to narrowly miss the target.
The hosts also saw Eritrea goalkeeper Yonathan Sultan make an important save after Job Ochieng created space on the right and delivered a dangerous ball into the area.
Kenya coach Benni McCarthy had started Ogam in attack following the injury that ruled captain and regular striker Michael Olunga out of the match a day earlier.
Ogam, who plays for Belgian second-tier club RFC Liege on loan from Austrian Bundesliga side Wolfsberger AC, was preferred to Ochieng, while Micah Obiero and Timothy Ouma supported him in attack.
McCarthy introduced Stanley Wilson and Ben Stanley in the 63rd minute as Kenya increased the pressure in search of an equaliser.
However, Eritrea resisted the hosts for much of the second half before Ogam’s late intervention earned Kenya a share of the points in their opening Group K fixture.
Kenya will travel to Guinea for their second qualifier on October 1, when they face the hosts at Stade du 28 Septembre in Conakry.
