On Matchday 9 of the World Cup qualifiers, Burundi will compete against Kenya. The match is on Thursday, October 9, with a kickoff at 15:00 Central European Time. Here’s an overview of the match.
Match Overview
Burundi began their World Cup qualifying journey well, winning against Seychelles (3:1) and drawing with Kenya (1:1). However, their performance declined in subsequent games. By September, Burundi’s chances of World Cup qualification ended after losses to Ivory Coast (0-1) and Gambia (0-2).
This match against Kenya is particularly important for Burundi since they have never won against this team in official competition.
Kenya, like Burundi, is also out of contention for World Cup qualification. Currently, under coach Benni McCarthy, they are fifth in the group with nine points after eight rounds.
In their last match, Kenya achieved a strong 5-0 victory over Seychelles and enters this game in good form. With no pressure in the standings, McCarthy can try different player setups during the match.
Possible Lineups
- Burundi: Nahimana – Liongola, Niyukuri, Nsabiyumva, Nduwarugira, Weymans – Eldhino, Msanga, Bizozs, Girumugisha – Kanakimana
- Kenya: Bwire – Onyango R., Sichenje, Owino, Okwaro – Abuya, Onyango A., Olunga – Osoro, Ochieng, Ogam
Match Facts and Head-to-Head
- Burundi has not won in their last three matches.
- In nine of Burundi’s last ten games, fewer than three goals were scored.
- In five of Kenya’s last seven matches, there have been under three goals.
- In their two past meetings, Kenya has one win, and the other match ended in a draw, with Burundi never winning against Kenya.
Prediction
Both teams typically have low-scoring games, so this trend is likely to continue. Previous meetings have also featured few goals, so I predict fewer than 2.5 goals in this match.