The Harambee Stars, Kenya’s men’s national football team, are set to play their home matches at Nyayo Stadium during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign. This announcement comes as a significant relief to fans and players alike, following the team’s previous challenge of playing their home games in Malawi during the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Nick Mwendwa, the President of Football Kenya Federation (FKF), revealed that the organization is working diligently to avoid the recurrence of June’s situation when Engin Firat’s charges were forced to host their matches at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe, Malawi. This was due to the lack of a FIFA-approved stadium in Kenya.
In a recent interview, Mwendwa disclosed that FKF is in the process of applying for a temporary license from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to use Nyayo Stadium for the upcoming qualifiers. “We are in the process of applying for a provisional license this month and I’m certain it will be granted,” Mwendwa remarked confidently.
He also expressed optimism that the government will complete the necessary improvements to the sports facility in time for the qualifiers. “I want to promise Kenyans that if the minister finishes the work, we shall host the AFCON qualifiers in the country,” he added.
Kenya is set to kick off their 2025 AFCON qualification campaign against the Warriors of Zimbabwe at Nyayo Stadium on September 2. This will be followed by an away match against Namibia in Windhoek on September 10. The Harambee Stars will then face Cameroon in a two-legged duel, with the first match in Yaoundé on October 7 and the reverse fixture in Nairobi on October 15.
The return to Nyayo Stadium for home matches will be a significant boost for the Harambee Stars, offering them the advantage of familiar grounds and the fervent support of local fans. As the team gears up for these crucial qualifiers, the focus will be on solidifying their preparations and ensuring they are ready to make a strong bid for a spot in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
