Former Kenyan international and AFC Leopards Chairman Boniface Ambani has stated the national men’s football team, Harambee Stars, has all it takes to post good results at the ongoing African Nations Championship (CHAN).

Speaking on a local TV station on Wednesday evening, August 13, 2025, Ambani said everything is working in favour of Harambee Stars, hence backing the side to shine at the tournament.

Harambee Stars have kicked off their maiden appearance at CHAN on a high, winning against DR Congo and Morocco in Group A, two teams that have won CHAN twice each. The national team also held a strong side of Angola to a vital 1-1 draw, despite being a man down, to take full control of Pool A with 7 points.

Harambee Stars are gaining big as well financially at CHAN. President William Ruto has been dishing out millions of shillings in winning bonuses, a motivational factor that Ambani said is propelling the team forward.

Motivation factor

“The current Harambee Stars players have everything at their disposal. From the stadium to incentives by the President to hotels. They just need to give their best,” Ambani said.

Echoing his sentiments, former Harambee Stars coach Jacob ‘Ghost’ Mulee also described the financial incentive from President William Ruto as a game-changer in the team’s mindset.

“The incentive is something that is a game-changer for the players. The incentive that the President gave is just to calm the nerves of the players. Money is not everything, but it is a very good motivation. Now the players don’t think about money; they think about results. They just want results,” Mulee noted.

Mulee also touched on the long-standing financial struggles in Kenyan football, praising the unity and focus currently surrounding the national team.

“Football in Kenya has been one of the worst sports in terms of payment. What I have seen with the team and the country united together, I believe that Harambee Stars will be in the finals,” he added.

As the tournament progresses in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, President William Ruto has promised Harambee Stars players Ksh2.5 million each if they beat Zambia in their last Group A match on Sunday, August 17, 2025, at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani. The team has also been promised two-bedroom houses each if they reach the CHAN 2024 quarter-finals, three-bedroom houses each if they reach the tournament’s semi-finals.