Ghost Mulee: Former Harambee Stars Head Coach Reflects on Africa Cup of Nations 2023

• Jacob Ghost Mulee has offered valuable insights on the AFCON 2023
• Coach Mulee has managed the Kenyan men's national team four times
• The former Harambee Stars boss hails the development of African teams

The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has been a tournament of surprises, where underdogs have roared, and giants have stumbled.

Among those watching with keen eyes is Kenyan football legend and former Harambee Stars coach Jacob "Ghost" Mulee.

Mulee has taken charge of the men’s national football team four times.

In an exclusive interview with Sports Brief, Mulee offered valuable insights into the tournament's quality, team improvements, and the future of Harambee Stars as they prepare to co-host the AFCON in 2027.

"I think it is one of the most interesting AFCON tournaments and the most improved in terms of the quality of play,” said Mulee.

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He highlighted the commendable performances of countries once considered underdogs, such as Mauritania, Cape Verde, Namibia, and Tanzania. He stressed that the technical prowess displayed by these teams has erased the notion of any African nation being small in football and that the performance on the field truly matters.

Discussing the remarkable progress of Burkina Faso, Mauritania, and Cape Verde, teams that had faced Harambee Stars in the past, Ghost Mulee pointed out the importance of strategic development.

“They never went to sleep after that, and I think they went into development. Mauritania used their FIFA funding very well, built a complex and embarked on youth programs. These countries have sat down, analysed themselves and come up with the solutions” he explained.

According to Mulee, Burkina Faso's strong football legacy was expected, but Cape Verde and Mauritania's success showcased the dividends of well-structured development programs.

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Mulee commended the level of officiating in AFCON 2023, noting the absence of controversies. He specifically praised the introduction of VAR, which has added a new dimension to the game. He also acknowledged the performance of Kenyan referees, highlighting Peter Waweru's courageous decision during the Morocco vs DRC game.

"Officiating in the AFCON 2023 has not been questionable," Mulee said, expressing hope for a consistent standard in the tournament's concluding matches.

When asked about his favourites following the exits of Egypt, Cameroon, and Ghana, Ghost Mulee threw his support behind Senegal. He cited their successful development policies, including championships at the under-17 and under-20 levels. Mulee praised Senegal's structured approach to football, underscoring the importance of a comprehensive plan for success in the sport.

Senegal, however, were shockingly eliminated by hosts Côte d'Ivoire in the last 16, as reported by CAF Online.

Looking ahead to Harambee Stars co-hosting AFCON 2027, Ghost Mulee reflected on Kenyan football's unpredictable nature. He urged for a well-thought-out roadmap, drawing parallels with the All African Games hosted by Kenya in 1997.

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“Remembering the All African games Kenya hosted in 1997, I think we need to pick a few lessons from that, although we have a different category of players. We need to have a roadmap, not only in terms of the country hosting the tournament but also in terms of team. We need to have a long term plan of how we are going to play because we are already qualified,” he stressed.

Finally, Mulee acknowledged the challenges but highlighted the potential success with careful planning, especially with emerging talents from the under-17s and under-20s.

CAF, in September last year, announced the 2027 tournament would, be jointly hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, as reported by African News.

Ghost Mulee discloses his difficult period

Sports Brief in 2021, reported when Radio host Jacob Ghost Mulee opened up for the first time since leaving the Harambee Stars coaching job.

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Mulee, while speaking on his show on Radio Jambo on Thursday, September 16, 2021, disclosed he had been going through a difficult period in the build-up to the termination of his contract.

The tactician left his role alongside his assistant Twahir Muhidin and goalkeeping coach Haggai Azande.