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Kenya’s national football team, the Harambee Stars, were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by Burundi in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The match, played at a neutral venue in Bujumbura, saw Kenya take the lead through a first-half header from captain Michael Olunga. However, Burundi responded strongly in the second half and equalized through a penalty kick. Despite creating several chances to win the game, Kenya was unable to find a breakthrough. The draw was a disappointing result for coach Engin Firat’s side, who had hoped for a winning start to their qualifying campaign. The result left Kenya with ground to make up in their group, which also included Ivory Coast and The Gambia.