On Saturday evening, Kenya’s football federation underwent a significant transformation with the election of a new office, raising concerns about the future of Engin Fırat, the Harambee Stars’ head coach. The changes come at a challenging time for Kenyan football, particularly following the team’s disappointing failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), a setback that has fueled widespread frustration.
Fırat, a Turkish coach who has been at the helm since 2021, has faced mounting pressure due to the team’s underperformance in recent qualifiers. Despite his contract being extended in 2023, his position has remained uncertain, especially with the leadership shake-up within the football federation. As the new officials take charge, the future of the national team appears to be in flux, with Fırat’s fate hanging in the balance.
In a candid interview regarding Kenya’s prospects in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Fırat made an unusually blunt assessment. “First, we have the Africa Nations Championship in February, which is our immediate focus. After that, we move to the World Cup qualifiers,” Fırat said. “Being in a group with Cote d’Ivoire, the African champions, means aiming for first place isn’t realistic. If I spoke differently, I’d be fooling myself. Our realistic goal is to compete for second place. Even that’s challenging against teams like Gambia and Gabon.”
Fırat’s frank remarks have led many to wonder whether his resignation to the team’s limited prospects could be a sign of an impending departure. His pragmatic approach, though grounded in realism, may be viewed as too defeatist by the new federation leadership, who are eager to turn the page on the team’s recent struggles. Football fans in Kenya, frustrated by the national team’s lackluster performances, have frequently called for his removal, and with the new officials now in power, the possibility of Fırat’s exit has grown stronger.
Despite the mounting pressure, Fırat remains hopeful, pointing to the importance of home advantage in African football. “But if we have all our players available and finally get to play at home—something I haven’t experienced since taking over—it could make a huge difference. Playing at home is incredibly important in African football,” he added. This optimistic sentiment suggests that, despite the challenges, Fırat is not ready to give up on his mission with the Harambee Stars.
His tenure with the national team has been a rollercoaster ride. Early on, there were signs of promise, with the team showing flashes of potential. However, failing to qualify for AFCON 2025 marked a major setback that has overshadowed much of his time in charge. The pressure on him to deliver a strong showing in the World Cup qualifiers, especially against formidable opponents like Cote d’Ivoire, Gabon, and Gambia, is immense. If the Harambee Stars fail to live up to expectations, calls for Fırat’s dismissal are likely to grow louder.
In the wake of the federation’s leadership change, the new officials have made it clear that they will not tolerate poor results. Fans and pundits alike are already questioning whether Fırat’s time has come to an end, particularly given the failure to qualify for AFCON. The fresh faces in charge could decide that a new coach is needed to steer the team in a more successful direction.
Fırat, for his part, insists that he remains committed to his role, despite the uncertainty surrounding his future. As the national team looks ahead to the World Cup qualifiers, there are still many challenges to overcome, but Fırat’s leadership will be closely scrutinized in the coming months. Will he rise to the occasion, or will the winds of change bring an end to his reign as coach of the Harambee Stars? Only time will tell, but the next few months will be pivotal in determining the future of both Fırat and the national team.
