Kenya's Ryan Ogam closes in to snatch the ball from Angola's Jo Paciencia during last year's CHAN Cup/FILE
Ryan Ogam has promised to lead an aggressive Harambee Stars attack when Kenya face Guinea in Conakry on Thursday, hoping to build on the late equaliser that earned the team a point against Eritrea.
The RFC Liège striker struck three minutes from time at Nyayo National Stadium on Saturday to salvage a 1-1 draw, keeping Kenya level with Eritrea on one point in Group D of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
With captain Michael Olunga still unavailable as he recovers from injury, Ogam is expected to lead the line again as coach Benni McCarthy looks for a sharper display from his side in their second assignment.
His late goal against Eritrea was another important contribution in a rapidly developing international career that has also seen him make an impact during Kenya’s recent CHAN campaign and the 2026 World Cup qualification series.
“I should have done more; you deserved better from us,” Ogam said in a message to Kenyan fans after the Eritrea match.
The striker will now face a Guinea side seeking to recover from a 2-1 defeat by South Africa in their opening Group D match. Coach Paulo Duarte knows another loss would make the West Africans’ task considerably harder.
“I don’t understand how the draw was made,” Duarte said after the defeat to South Africa, questioning the composition of a group that includes Kenya despite the hosts already being guaranteed a place at the 2027 AFCON finals.
Kenya are co-hosts of the tournament alongside Uganda and Tanzania and have therefore secured automatic qualification. McCarthy is nevertheless using the qualifiers to test his squad against competitive opposition and prepare for the finals. That gives Thursday’s match added importance for the Stars, with Ogam expected to be the man to watch in Olunga's absence.
Guinea, meanwhile, will rely on home advantage as they attempt to get their campaign back on track at the 25,000-capacity Stade du 28 Septembre.
“But we have more games to play,” Duarte said, acknowledging that Guinea still have an opportunity to recover from their opening defeat.
The Portuguese coach has also demanded a response from his players, with the hosts aware that another poor result would leave them chasing the group leaders from the outset.
Guinea will also have the backing of their home supporters, creating a different challenge for the Kenyans. who were held by Eritrea in front of its own fans.
Duarte has made his immediate objective clear, saying Guinea would “do everything to get a result against the Stars.
Ogam, meanwhile, arrives in Conakry with his confidence boosted by his recent run of international goals. His movement and physical presence have given Kenya another attack option, while his performances have strengthened his role in McCarthy’s plans.
The 21-year-old’s rise has been swift since his breakthrough at Tusker, where he scored 15 goals in 17 appearances before moving to Austrian side Wolfsberger AC and subsequently joining Belgian club RFC Liège on loan. He has also made his mark at international level, scoring decisive goals against Morocco and Zambia during CHAN.
Duarte, however, is determined to ensure Guinea respond strongly after their setback against South Africa.
