Football Kenya Federation President Hussein Mohammed has apologised to the nation following Harambee Stars’ 8-0 humiliation at the hands of former African champions, Senegal, in a friendly match played on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, in Antalya, Turkey.

The Lions of Teranga dominated every department of the match at the Mardan Stadium, handing Benni McCarthy’s men a defeat that will undoubtedly force deep introspection within the technical bench.

At half-time, Kenya had already shipped in six goals, with the former African champions adding two more in the second half of the one-sided friendly encounter. However, shortly after the defeat, Hussein Mohammed admitted the shame, saying it is a wake-up call to the federation and the technical bench.

Carrying the cross

”Truth be told, today is a bad day in the office. The results from today’s games are a wake-up call to us. To play and compete against the best in the world requires deliberate investment in a serious and professional technical team and player development programs,” Mohammed said.

Hussein Mohammed went ahead to promise that the national men’s senior football team will rise from the ashes. ”We have no excuses. I apologise for these results. We shall fix it. We will review our policies, operational procedures and key performance indicators of all staff, starting from the grassroots and working our way to all national teams,” he added.

Before the match, Hussein Mohammed had shared an encouraging message with both Harambee Stars and their U17 counterparts, calling on the young players to carry the country’s flag with confidence and unity on their road to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) U17.

Hussein reminded the team of the effort that brought them this far. “Best of luck to the Junior Stars as they begin their U-17 AFCON qualifiers against Somalia today. Your hard work and determination have brought you this far; it’s now time to put in the work,” the statement read.

Meanwhile, Harambe Stars has faced its share of unforgettable highs but also a handful of crushing lows that continue to haunt generations of supporters. The 8-0 embarrassment against Senegal has reopened old wounds and forced local football fans to revisit some of the country’s most humbling moments on the international stage.