On January 26, 2004, Kenya took on Mali in an Africa Cup of Nations Group C opener at the October 5 stadium in Bizzetin, Tunisia.
It was the first time the team was featuring in Africa's premier soccer competition and the match lived up to the billing with the Stars holding the Les Aigles (The Eagles) for the better part of the first half.
The marauding runs of Dennis Oliech caused the Mali defence plenty of problems and Kenya could have gotten the opener on the quarter hour mark of game were it not for goalkeeper Mamadou Sidibe's heroics, Harambee Stars would have taken the lead.
A defensive mixup between Adam Shaban and George Waweru gifted Momo Sisokho and easy chance as he tucked the ball away from the on rushing Francis Onyiso to give the more experienced Malians a 1-0 lead in the 28th minute of the game.
Mali would hold onto the lead until the break as Kenya looked struggling in the winter conditions.
In the second half, a rejuvenated Harambee Stars came out guns blazing and were soon rewarded when Titus Mulama's half volley from a poorly cleared corner found the bottom right corner to give Kenya their first goal in the AFCON since Mickey Weche's penalty against Senegal in 1992.
Kenya's joy was short lived though as Tottenham Hotspur striker Frederick Kanoute rifled a rasping shot past an outstretched Onyiso to restore the Eagles lead.
He would then complete his brace with 12 minutes to go as Kenya resigned to losing this fierce encounter.
On Thursday October 7, 2021 the two worlds collide in Agadir, Morocco in the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifier and things must be different this time round. Find out who featured for Kenya in that historic match against Mali in 2004.
Kenya's first XI:Francis Onyiso,Kassim Issa,Adam Shaban,George Waweru ,Musa Otieno, Tom Juma,Titus Mulama,Robert Mambo,John Mo Muiruri ,Mike Okoth Origi,Dennis Oliech.
Substitutes: Emmanuel Ake, John Baraza, Anthony Mathenge, James Omondi, Walter Odede, Philip Opiyo, Andrew Oyombe, Moses Nyandusi Gikenyi, Duncan Ochieng, Maurice Sunguti, Wyllis Ochieng