The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
Related Articles
By: Ajwang Meresa, MKU
Harambee Stars have registered an upward movement in the latest FIFA World Rankings, climbing two places to 109th following their emphatic 4-0 victory over Lesotho in an international friendly match.
The ranking improvement comes as a welcome boost for Kenya, which has been seeking consistency under head coach Benni McCarthy ahead of the upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualification campaign.
Kenya produced one of their most convincing displays in recent months against Lesotho, with captain Michael Olunga leading from the front. The experienced forward opened the scoring before rising talents John Avire and Duke Abuya found the net to complete a commanding performance.
The victory marked a significant turnaround for the national side, which had been criticised for inconsistent results earlier in the year. Just days before the win, Kenya had been held to a 1-1 draw by Lesotho in a friendly played in South Africa as part of preparations for future international assignments.
McCarthy used the match to assess several new combinations within the squad, with Kenya’s attack showing greater creativity and efficiency than in previous outings. The result has generated optimism among supporters, many of whom view the performance as a sign that the team is beginning to adapt to the former South African international’s tactical approach.
According to FIFA’s latest ranking data, Kenya had been positioned at 111th in the live standings before the latest update. The two-place rise moves Harambee Stars closer to breaking back into the world’s top 100 teams, a milestone that would strengthen their standing in future continental and global competitions.
Football analysts note that an improved FIFA ranking could benefit Kenya during future qualification draws by potentially securing more favourable seeding positions for both AFCON and FIFA World Cup qualifying campaigns.
The latest result has also eased pressure on McCarthy, whose tenure has faced scrutiny following a mixed start. With additional international fixtures expected in the coming months, Kenya now has an opportunity to continue building momentum and further improve its global standing.
As preparations intensify for competitive matches later this year, the Harambee Stars camp will be hoping the convincing win over Lesotho serves as the foundation for a sustained rise in both performance and FIFA rankings.
