Aboud Omar: Nabwire's dismissal won us a vital point against Angola

Kenya had to rally from behind after Jo Paciencia gave the visitors an early seventh-minute lead, slotting past the goalkeeper to silence the home fans. However, just five minutes later, Austin Odhiambo restored parity from the penalty spot, setting the stage for a thrilling contest.

The turning point came when Nabwire was shown a straight red card for a last-man challenge on the edge of the box, forcing Stars to play more than 70 minutes with ten men. Omar believes the midfielder’s intervention prevented a likely goal.

“Marvin's red card came as an act of boldness, he took one for the team. It won us the game. If he allowed his opponent to dribble past him, then we could have conceded,” Omar said.

He also praised Coach Bennie McCarthy’s tactical adjustments that helped the team hold firm under pressure.

“At the break, the coach told us exactly what we were supposed to do being one man less, how we were going to move. The players also stepped up. With the quality from the opposition, you have to do a lot extra,” he added.

McCarthy, however, felt the decision to send off Nabwire was harsh.

“I think it was soft, a little bit soft. You can understand how it looks. Marvin makes a quick effort to get back, then clips him slightly and denies the opposition a goal-scoring opportunity,” he said.

The draw keeps Kenya in contention as they prepare for their next fixture in the qualifiers.