Micheal Olunga has enjoyed a steady rise in Kenyan football. The former Engineering student at the Technical University Of Kenya started gaining attention while he was on loan at Thika United where he scored nine goals in 2014.
The striker was recalled to his parent club Gor Mahia in 2015 where he had a fantastic season. He scored 19 goals to help the side win a record 15th league title without losing a single match. Olunga is now the assistant captain for the Kenyan National team and is the team’s best bet for goals.
His goals have mostly been game-winners, below, we look at three different instances where Olunga has saved the national team.
Kenya 1-0 Ghana
Having failed to win a single match in the AFCON 2019 qualifiers prior to the match, Harambee Stars needed to win against the Black Stars to revive their hopes of qualifying.
Ghana was by far the better team but midway through the first half, a cross from the right was attacked by Micheal Olunga, he did not get to the ball but his presence was enough to force the Ghana defense into panic mode and they put the ball into their own net.
Kenya won the match 1-0 and would go on to qualify for the tournament for the first time since 2004.
Kenya 3-2 Tanzania
Harambee Stars lost their first match to Algeria at AFCON 2019 and needed to win their second Group game. Interestingly, it was an East African derby against Tanzania’s Taifa Stars.
Tanzania went ahead early in the first half but Olunga leveled matters with a perfect overhead kick goal. Minutes later Tanzania was ahead but Johanna Omollo leveled matters in the second half.
With time running out, Olunga picked up the ball on the edge of the box and shot first time. The ball went in off the post and Kenya won not only the match but the home bragging rights!
Egypt 1-1 Kenya
Harambee Stars’ first match in the 2021 AFCON qualifiers was tricky away fixture to the record Champions Egypt. No one expected them to come home with any point and the feeling was made stronger when Egypt scored the first goal in the first half.
However, Kenya MR. Reliable Micheal Olunga was at it again and scored the equalizer in the 68th minute. The goal earned Kenya a famous point and a positive start to their qualifying campaign.