Harambee Stars returned to international football in over a year with a high-profile friendly against Iran in Tehran on Tuesday 28 March evening which ended in a 2-1 defeat.
Skipper Michael Olunga put the visitors ahead in the 51st minute, but Iran staged a successful comeback to pick the win.
Speaking after the match, head coach Engin Firat reiterated the need for patience with the team as it is still a work in progress. He hailed the team’s fighting spirit.
“We need time for these boys. It was our first time together and against a very strong side,” the Turkish manager, who is on his second spell with Stars, said.
“I am happy with the way they played, how they fought for everything. We were very unlucky that we lost, but in the end, I think everybody should understand that we have a clear way and in one year we will be ready,” the 52-year-old former Moldova coach added.
Iran, who participated in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 late last year and is ranked 24th in the world, scored through 24-year-old Mohammed Mohebi, who headed past goalkeeper Patrick Matasi from a free kick in the 76th minute.
Matasi, who before the first goal had a good game, pulling saves that ensured that Iran’s efforts in front of goal were thwarted, had a horrific ending to the match when he cheaply let in Ramin Rezaeian Semeskandi’s strike from a set-piece situation in the 84th minute.
First handed two foreign-based players, Alfred Scriven and Daniel Anyembe their first caps. “The door is open for anybody who wants to serve the national team.”
Scriven, a striker, turns out for Idrottslaget Hødd in Norway, while Anyembe is a defender with Danish side Viborg Fodsports Forening.
