Secretary General of the Football Kenya Federation (FKF), Barry Otieno, has confirmed that Harambee Stars will host its first-round qualifier for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) against Zimbabwe in Uganda. This situation has arisen because no stadium in Kenya currently meets the standards required by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for hosting international matches.
The news comes as a bitter pill for Kenyan football enthusiasts who, earlier this year, missed the chance to watch Harambee Stars take on African champions Ivory Coast and Burundi in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Both of those matches had to be played in Malawi at the Bingu wa Mutharika Stadium, as Kenyan venues were deemed inadequate. Now, as Kenya looks to secure a spot in the AFCON 2025 tournament, the reality of playing another “home” match away from home has hit hard.
Barry Otieno expressed the federation’s frustration with the current situation, noting the significant disadvantage of playing away from home, even in what are supposed to be home matches. “We would want to play at home because it comes with the advantage of fans coming to support their team; fans are a physical element and part of football,” Otieno stated. However, he also acknowledged that the current state of Kenya’s stadiums leaves them with no choice but to seek alternatives.
The main venues that Kenya would typically rely on for such high-profile matches are currently under renovation. These renovations are part of an effort to bring the stadiums up to CAF standards in anticipation of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2025, which is scheduled to take place in January. CAF has been conducting inspections not only in Kenya but also in Uganda and Tanzania to assess the level of preparedness ahead of the CHAN tournament.
The FKF Secretary General highlighted the Kenyan government’s commitment to completing these renovations, urging fans to be patient and supportive of the process. “The government is very committed to finishing this process, we urge all Kenyans to understand and let them complete the renovation. After they are completed, we will not only have good stadiums but also our chances of hosting competitions in the future will not be quashed on grounds of stadia,” Otieno explained.
The road to AFCON 2025 is particularly significant for Kenya, given that Harambee Stars missed out on the 2023 edition due to a FIFA ban in 2022. The ban, which was imposed due to what FIFA described as third-party interference in the running of football in Kenya, left the national team sidelined from international competitions. As a result, the upcoming qualifiers represent a crucial opportunity for Harambee Stars to re-establish themselves on the continental stage.
Kenya has been drawn into a challenging group that includes Zimbabwe, Cameroon, and Namibia. With such tough competition ahead, every match, especially those at “home,” will be critical. Playing in Uganda adds a layer of complexity to their campaign, as they will have to contend with the challenges of playing in an unfamiliar environment without the full support of their home fans.
As Kenya prepares to face Zimbabwe in Uganda, the focus remains on ensuring that the country’s stadiums are ready for future competitions. The hope is that once renovations are completed, Kenya will not only have venues capable of hosting international matches but also be in a position to host major tournaments in the future. For now, however, the challenge of playing away from home continues, with Harambee Stars determined to make the best of a difficult situation.
