The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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As the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) gets underway in Morocco, Kenya’s Harambee Stars are conspicuously absent. East Africa is instead represented by regional rivals Uganda and Tanzania, highlighting Kenya’s continued struggles on the continental stage.
The Stars’ failure to qualify was sealed on November 15, 2024, when they drew 1–1 against Zimbabwe in a crucial Group J qualifier. That result ended Kenya’s hopes and exposed long-standing structural and management challenges within the national team.
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Former national team coach Jacob ‘Ghost’ Mulee said the outcome was predictable.
“This campaign was lost months before the final match. Talent alone doesn’t win tournaments; planning and continuity matter,” he said, pointing to the success of Uganda and Tanzania in sticking with coaches and strengthening domestic football structures.
Kenyan Premier League coach Salim Babu added that the domestic league’s low intensity hampers international competitiveness.
“Our league doesn’t prepare players for high-stakes matches. Uganda and Tanzania have raised their standards, and it shows in qualification,” he said, noting that gaps in facilities, player development, and officiating also contribute to the team’s struggles.
Former Harambee Stars captain Musa Otieno said psychological factors remain a critical weakness.
“We freeze under pressure and struggle to close games. Our neighbours go into matches believing they belong on the stage. We still look like guests asking for permission,” he observed.
The criticism is echoed by AFC Leopards coach Fred Ambani, who warned that Kenya’s absence is particularly embarrassing given the country’s role as co-host of AFCON 2027 alongside Uganda and Tanzania.
“This cannot continue. Accountability is needed at all levels — players, officials, everyone,” he said.
AFCON 2025, the tournament’s 35th edition, runs from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, across nine venues in six Moroccan cities. Morocco stepped in to host after Guinea was deemed unprepared, and Ivory Coast arrives as defending champions. CAF president Patrice Motsepe has assured fans that the tournament will proceed despite protests over public spending.
For Kenyan football, the absence is a stark reminder that regional pride is no longer automatic. With 2027 fast approaching, experts warn that hosting the tournament will mean little if the national team does not become competitive.
“This should be a turning point for Kenyan football. If it isn’t, 2027 will expose our weaknesses,” Ambani said.
