The Harambee Stars, Kenya’s national football team, have faced significant challenges in recent years, struggling to maintain their place as a competitive force in African football. The team’s consistent underperformance has become a source of frustration for fans and football experts alike. As of 2024, the Harambee Stars are ranked 108th in the FIFA standings, reflecting their declining fortunes. This setback was further emphasized by their failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), where they finished third in Group J behind giants Cameroon and Zimbabwe.
Twahir Muhiddin, a former head coach of the national team, has weighed in on the team’s struggles, calling for a fresh approach to rebuild and revitalize Kenyan football. According to Muhiddin, the focus should be on integrating youth players with experienced professionals to create a balanced and competitive squad. This, he believes, will set the foundation for a team that can challenge top African teams, rather than just participating in qualifiers or tournaments.
Muhiddin’s vision centers on the importance of youth development, a strategy already in place with the youth teams in Kenya. He emphasizes the need to blend young, energetic players with the leadership and tactical maturity of more experienced professionals. The right balance, Muhiddin argues, is essential to create a team that can compete at the highest level, including the 2027 AFCON, which he sees as a realistic target for the national team’s revival.
However, the road to success will not be immediate. Muhiddin stresses that patience is key, and the rebuilding process should be gradual, giving coaches the necessary time to establish a well-rounded team. He suggests that a two-year period could be sufficient to allow a coach to fully develop a squad that blends youth and experience, ultimately leading to success on the continental stage.
An essential aspect of this transformation, according to Muhiddin, is reducing the team’s reliance on foreign-based players. While Kenyan footballers who play abroad have brought attention to the team, Muhiddin believes that the national squad should be a meritocracy where local players are given an equal opportunity to compete. He suggests that the national team should not be seen as a platform exclusively for those playing overseas. Instead, it should be a place where both local and foreign-based players can compete for spots on equal footing.
In Muhiddin’s view, creating more competition between local and abroad-based players will elevate the standard of Kenyan football. He notes that when the national team performs well, it attracts interest from top clubs, both locally and internationally. This could lead to more Kenyan players getting offers from prestigious clubs, raising the overall quality of the league and contributing to the development of the national team. Increased competition, both in local and international football, would make the team stronger, as players would have to constantly prove themselves to earn their place in the squad.
This call for change comes at a critical time for the national team, as speculations swirl about the future of the Harambee Stars’ coaching staff. After the disappointing AFCON qualification campaign, there is uncertainty about whether the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) will hire a new coach. Engin Firat, who led the team during the failed campaign, could be replaced under the leadership of FKF President Hussein Mohammed. The appointment of a new coach could signify the beginning of a new era for the Harambee Stars, one focused on rebuilding and creating a team capable of challenging for honors once again.
Muhiddin’s proposals offer a clear roadmap for revitalizing Kenyan football. By focusing on youth integration, fostering local player competition, and allowing time for coaches to build a well-rounded team, the Harambee Stars could regain their competitive edge. With the right leadership and a collective effort from both players and administrators, Kenya can hope to once again become a force to be reckoned with in African football.
