Kenya’s dream run at Kasarani came to a crushing halt after a tense penalty shootout defeat to Madagascar, with Harambee Stars defender Michael Kibwage stepping forward to shoulder the weight of the nation’s heartbreak.
The decisive moment came when Kibwage missed his spot-kick, one of two failed penalties that saw Kenya bow out of the competition in front of a stunned home crowd. For a player known for his composure at the back, the agony of the miss was written all over his face.
The staunch defender took to social media with an emotional reflection that laid bare the pain of the moment.
“Football can be cruel. Some pains take a while to settle in and when it does, we look at the bright side. We gave it our all, wanted to make the country proud. Sadly, we had to exit in a painful way,” he wrote.
Accompanied by a photo of him and his teammates walking arm-in-arm off the pitch, the message struck a chord with fans.
“It pains we didn’t go through, but we fought like our lives depended on it,” he added, summing up the spirit that carried Harambee Stars through a nail-biting contest.
At Kasarani, the atmosphere had been electric, with the sea of red-and-black-clad fans pushing the Stars every step of the way.
Kenya had matched Madagascar stride for stride, forcing the clash into penalties after a tense draw in regular time. But when it came down to nerve and precision, fortune slipped away.
For Kibwage, his missed penalty was not just a personal wound but a moment that will linger in the collective memory of the team and supporters. Yet, his willingness to face up to the disappointment head-on has been hailed as a mark of leadership.
Football fans flooded his post with messages of encouragement, insisting that one kick does not define his contribution to the team. “You gave your all for Kenya, and that’s what matters,” one supporter wrote.
Already former Nairobi governor Mike Sonko has petitioned CAF for the disallowed goal, accussing match officials of bias and misconduct in the quarter-final clash