“Kenya is a very strong team defensively. Offensively they are also very good. They have the captain (Michael Olunga) who is an unbelievable player with great talent. We controlled him (today) but he is a super player,” the tactician said after the game.

The Bright Stars beat Harambee Stars by a solitary goal, and the victory came as a huge morale booster for Cusin, who is trying to build a strong side towards the 2026 World Cup qualifiers which start in November.

“Of course when you beat a team that is more than 60 positions higher than you in the rankings it is a big thing. We were very angry to concede four against Mali in the AFCON qualifiers and we took that anger into this game. We wanted to do well,” the coach noted.

He added; “We had a plan and we kept it. We changed a bit of the playing style in the second half, but from the start, we wanted to be aggressive and close down the spaces with good pressing. I am happy that with the first action of pressing we got the goal.”

“We played with personality against a very good opponent.”

He now says he has an idea of his team and what to improve on, as he approaches November, and he will look to firm up his side’s weak points.

“When you win, it gives you good energy. I believe in the project as a coach and the result always gives you a possibility to grow. We need to continue like this to progress. We have to be organized in many sectors,” the coach added.