A lot of things happened in football in 1998 – the year when AFC Leopards last won the Kenya Premier League. 

Mwanahabari.co.ke takes a look at some of the things that defined that year – even as AFC Leopards continue in their sojourn towards winning a league title over two decades later.

Gor Had 9 players in Harambee Stars

The year 1998 was a special year for Gor Mahia FC especially because they had nine (9) of their footballers playing for the national team Harambee Stars squad of 1998.

Some of the Gor Mahia players in the Stars’ team included: Matthews Ottamax (goalkeeper), Josiah Ougo ‘Biggy’ (Defender), Joseph Akinga, John Odhiambo Baresi, Patrick Oyiengo, Bonaventure Maruti, among others.

Kenya almost went to the World Cup

Harambee Stars had a decent performance and almost qualified for the France World that was held in June of 1998. In the build up to the global games, Kenya drew with Super Eagles of Nigeria 1-1 in Nairobi’s Kasarani stadium in a high octane game. Indeed the German Coach almost took Harambee Stars to France. Some of the quotable players in the Stars team included John Baresi Odhiambo, Mike Okoth, Musa Otieno, Francis Onyiso, Vincent Kwarula, Josiah Ougo and others. The coach was the late German Reinhardt Fabisch.

Stars ranked 68th in the world

Harambee Stars had the highest FIFA ranking at position 68 in the world. This the team achieved in the month of December having shown grit in the international games in that year. This was quite an impressive performance given the team has not reached that feat since that time. This is the same squad that almost took Kenya to the World Cup in France that same year.

Kenya beat Burkina Faso home and away

Harambee Stars were no pushovers – they were a formidable force in African football. Coached by the famous Reinhardt Fabisch, the team did not disappoint and almost qualified for the world showpiece. One thing that still stands out is the West African side Burkina Faso.  This was a tough game – but the boys beat their opponents 4-3 in Nairobi and later 4-2 away in West Africa.

South Africa qualified for the World Cup

South Africa made its maiden appearance at the FIFA World Cup in 1998 in France. six years after they had been readmitted to the global football family. Despite a 3–0 drubbing in the hands of the hosts France in their opening game, they went on to draw Denmark and Saudi Arabia and finished third in the group. They exited the games at the group stages. The World Cup was won by the host France who beat Brazil 3-0 in the finals.