Kenya national football team games have always been a rollercoaster. Honestly, if you've followed the Harambee Stars for more than a week, you know the drill: heart-pounding hope followed by a confusing tactical collapse, usually flavored with some off-pitch drama. It's a vibe. But 2025 changed things. With Benni McCarthy taking the wheel in March, the narrative shifted from "maybe we'll survive" to "wait, are we actually good?"
It hasn't been all sunshine, though. Not even close.
Between the absolute thrashing in Turkey and the electric atmosphere of the CHAN tournament on home soil, the last year of Kenya national football team games has been nothing short of chaotic. People talk about the "potential" of Kenyan football like it's some mythic creature. But if you look at the actual scorecards from the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and the recent AFCON heartbreak, you see a team that is finally, painfully, growing up.
The Benni McCarthy Era: A Brutal Start
When Benni McCarthy signed that two-year contract, he didn't just bring a UEFA Champions League winner’s medal; he brought a massive ego and a "work-till-you-drop" mentality. His first real test was the World Cup qualification double-header in March 2025.
It was messy.
Facing Gabon in Nairobi at Nyayo Stadium, Kenya looked sharp early on. Michael Olunga—our undisputed talisman—slotted one home in the 62nd minute. The stadium was vibrating. Then, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang reminded everyone why he’s a legend, netting twice to snatch a 2-1 win for the visitors. It felt like the same old story. Same script, different year.
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But then came the Seychelles game in September. Five-nil. A total demolition. Ryan Ogam, the kid from Tusker who eventually moved to the Austrian Bundesliga, bagged two. Olunga got his. Even Charles Sichenje popped up from center-back to score. It was the kind of performance that makes you forget the 8-0 friendly loss to Senegal just two months later in Turkey. Yeah, you read that right. Eight. Zero. Sadio Mane had a hat-trick before most Kenyan fans had even finished their evening tea.
Kenya National Football Team Games: The Road to 2026
The World Cup dream is still technically alive, but it’s on life support. Kenya sits in Group F, trailing behind the heavy hitters like Ivory Coast and Gabon. After eight matches, the Stars have nine points.
Is it enough? Probably not for a direct ticket.
The 3-0 loss to Ivory Coast in Abidjan in October 2025 was a reality check. Franck Kessié and Amad Diallo basically ran a masterclass in midfield. Kenya struggled to even see the ball, let alone do something with it. However, the 1-0 win over Burundi in Bujumbura—thanks to another Ryan Ogam special—kept the math interesting.
Recent Results at a Glance:
- Kenya 5-0 Seychelles (World Cup Qualifier) - Pure dominance.
- Burundi 0-1 Kenya (World Cup Qualifier) - Gritty away win.
- Ivory Coast 3-0 Kenya (World Cup Qualifier) - A humbling experience.
- Senegal 8-0 Kenya (Friendly) - Let's just never talk about this again.
The shift in the squad is what's really interesting. McCarthy has been blooding local talent like Kelly Madada and Moses Shummah. It's refreshing. For years, we relied solely on the "foreign-based" players to save us. Now, the FKF Premier League is actually producing guys who can hold their own—mostly.
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The CHAN Chaos and Home Turf Pressure
Co-hosting the African Nations Championship (CHAN) with Uganda and Tanzania was supposed to be our big moment. And in some ways, it was. The victory over Morocco at Kasarani was legendary. The atmosphere was so intense that fans actually breached the perimeter walls, which unfortunately led to a $50,000 fine from CAF.
Kenyan football, man. You can't have a win without a side of administrative headache.
The tournament showed that when the Kenya national football team games are played at home, the "12th man" isn't a cliché. It’s a literal force. But it also exposed our infrastructure gaps. We nearly lost hosting rights because Kasarani wasn't "up to code" regarding security. It’s frustrating because the talent is clearly there. Ryan Ogam used the CHAN platform to secure his move to Wolfsberger AC, proving that the world is watching, even if the local federation is sometimes sleeping.
Why We Keep Falling Short (The Honest Truth)
You want to know why we aren't at the top yet? It's not just the coaching. It's the "supremacy battles" and the constant infighting at the FKF. In November 2025, reports surfaced about siphoned funds and stadium ownership rows. It’s hard to focus on a tactical 4-3-3 formation when the players are worried if their match allowances will actually hit their bank accounts.
Also, the scouting. Until recently, we ignored the grassroots. McCarthy’s move to include youngsters like Aldrine Kibet is a step in the right direction, but we’re decades behind academies in West Africa.
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What Most People Get Wrong
A lot of fans think the team is "lazy." Honestly, that's garbage. If you watched the 3-3 draw against Gambia in Abidjan, you saw a team that refused to die. Coming back from behind three times? That's heart. Mohammed Bajaber and Wilson scored late goals that showed this squad actually has a spine. The problem isn't effort; it's consistency and elite-level technical training.
What's Next for the Harambee Stars?
The calendar for 2026 is looking crowded. We have the final World Cup qualification matches in March, and the focus is already shifting toward AFCON 2027, which Kenya will also co-host.
The goal now is simple: stop the defensive "brain farts" that cost us against teams like Gabon. McCarthy seems to be focusing on a more disciplined backline, integrating Vincent Harper and Job Ochieng to provide some stability.
If you want to support the team, the best thing you can do is actually show up. The revenue from ticket sales and the pressure of a full stadium do more for the players than any Twitter campaign ever could.
Actionable Steps for Fans and Analysts:
- Monitor the March 2026 Fixtures: The games against Gambia and Gabon will decide if the World Cup dream officially ends or becomes a miracle run.
- Support Local Talent: Keep an eye on the FKF Premier League. The next Ryan Ogam is currently playing for a club like Kakamega Homeboyz or Posta Rangers.
- Hold the FKF Accountable: Follow journalists like Francis Onyach who report on the administrative side. Without transparency in the federation, the on-pitch results will always have a ceiling.
- Watch the CHAN Stars: Players who debuted in 2025 are the core of the 2027 AFCON squad. Get to know them now before they become household names.
The journey of the Harambee Stars is exhausting, but it's ours. Whether it's a 5-0 win or an 8-0 loss, the story of Kenyan football is finally being written with some actual ambition. We just need to make sure the ink doesn't run out.