Football in 2023

As the curtains draw close to 2023, ushering in the New Year, Kenya’s national teams for both men and women – Harambee Stars and Starlets – experienced a campaign with mixed results.

Kenya’s major issue surfaced in February 2022 when FIFA, the world governing body, voted during a congress in Qatar to impose an indefinite suspension on the East African nation, citing alleged government interference.

The dreaded FIFA ban

This ban came into effect due to the takeover of Football Kenya Federation (FKF) activities by a government-appointed ‘caretaker committee’ led by retired Justice Aaron Ringera. This action was in serious violation of the Fifa Statutes.

The indefinite ban led to predicaments: Harambee Stars were disqualified from the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualification campaign, and Starlets missed the chance to face Uganda in a two-legged fixture for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) qualification.

Kenya’s ban lasted for eight months until the appointment of Cabinet Secretary of Sports Ababu Namwamba. His arrival breathed fresh air into the sport, reinstating the FKF office led by Nick Mwendwa and subsequently lifting the indefinite ban imposed by FIFA. This paved the way for the national teams to return to FIFA and CAF-recognized competitions.

Harambee Stars’ performance

On March 28, under coach Engin Firat, Harambee Stars got their first chance for action as they faced Iran in an international friendly. They lost 2-1 at Azadi Stadium, with captain Michael Olunga scoring the lone goal. Their subsequent fixtures took them to Mauritius for a Four Nations tournament, where Moses Shummah scored his debut goal, helping Kenya secure a 1-0 victory against Pakistan in their opener at the National Sports Complex Stadium. However, they lost the second match 1-0 against Mauritius, finishing second.

Kenya also organized friendly matches against World Cup hosts Qatar, defeating them 2-1 with goals from defender Joseph Akumu and Amos Nondi at Al Janoub Stadium. During the same window, they returned home to lose 1-0 against South Sudan and concluded their build-up matches with a 2-2 draw against Russia at Mardan Sports Complex.

Winning two matches out of the six build-up ties, Kenya earned the chance to feature in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, being pooled in Group F alongside Ivory Coast, Gambia, Gabon, Seychelles, and Burundi. They began their campaign with a 2-1 defeat against the Syli National but bounced back to defeat the Pirates 5-0.

Coach Firat’s perspective

According to Kenya coach Engin Firat, 2023 was a learning process for his team, and Kenyans should anticipate improved performances in the coming year. “We played at least six friendlies to test the players, but sometimes you don’t have the chance to have your full squad because of injuries,” Firat told People Sport. “With our full squad, I know we have good things in store for our fans. We will do our best to make it from the group and qualify for the World Cup. We still have a chance; we know 2023 was not good for us. Remember, we were coming back from a ban that affected the players’ morale.”

Starlets’ roller coaster

Similarly, the women’s team, Starlets, had to wait until September 22 to play their first competitive match, the AFCON qualifying first-round first-leg fixture against Cameroon. They lost 1-0 in Yaounde but managed to win the return leg 1-0 in Nairobi. However, the game had to be decided on penalties, with Kenya winning 4-3. They qualified for the second round but were eliminated after facing Botswana, drawing the first leg 1-1 and losing the return leg 1-0, missing out on the qualification ticket.

Additionally, the Kenya U18 Boys team under coach Salim Babu put on a good show, reaching the final of the CECAFA 18. They won all their group matches but lost 2-1 against Uganda in the final.