Kenya national football team
![]() | |||
| Nickname(s) | Harambee Stars | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Association | Football Kenya Federation (FKF) | ||
| Confederation | CAF (Africa) | ||
| Sub-confederation | CECAFA (Central & East Africa) | ||
| Head coach | Robert Matano | ||
| Captain | Michael Olunga | ||
| Most caps | Musa Otieno (90) | ||
| Top scorer | William Ouma (35) | ||
| Home stadium | Moi International Sports Centre | ||
| FIFA code | KEN | ||
| |||
| FIFA ranking | |||
| Current | 101 | ||
| Highest | 68 (December 2008) | ||
| Lowest | 137 (July 2007) | ||
| First international | |||
(Nairobi, Kenya; 1 May 1926) | |||
| Biggest win | |||
(Nairobi, Kenya; 4 October 1961) | |||
| Biggest defeat | |||
(Uganda; 1932)[2] | |||
| Africa Cup of Nations | |||
| Appearances | 6 (first in 1972) | ||
| Best result | Group stage (1972, 1988, 1990, 1992, 2004 and 2019) | ||
The Kenya national football team represents Kenya in association football. It is controlled by the Football Kenya Federation, the governing body football in Kenya, and competes as a member of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA). It is colloquially known as Harambee Stars and plays its home games primarily at the Nyayo National Stadium in the capital, Nairobi.
History
Kenya qualified for the 2019 AFCON. The head coach at the time Sébastien Migné was appointed in May 2018,[3] and since his appointment Kenya has climbed back into the top 100 FIFA ranked nations.[4]
In May 2017, the Football Kenya Federation signed a 3-year partnership with kits manufacturer Mafro Sports to provide the kits for all national teams, as well as junior categories. The national team will use red jerseys for home matches, white jerseys for away matches, and green jerseys for matches played on neutral venues.[5][6]
On 8 September 2018, Kenya earned a win over 4-time African champions Ghana, winning 1–0.[7]
On the 8th of March 2021, the Football Kenya Federation President Nick Mwendwa and Odibets General Manager Dedan Mungai unveiled a partnership. The partnership was the first of its kind where the betting company Odibets would sponsor the Kenyan football team to prepare for 5 upcoming matches. The 5 million shilling motivation deal was set in place to cater for the team's wants and needs. While it was set as a continuous partnership, the initial donation of KSH 5,000,000 was made as a 1 time payment.[8]
Recent results
2021
| 10 November 2022 World Cup qualification | Uganda | 1–1 | | Entebbe, Uganda |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: St. Mary's Stadium-Kitende Referee: Souleiman Ahmed Djama (Djibouti) |
| 15 November 2022 World Cup qualification | Kenya | 2–1 | | Nairobi, Kenya |
| 16:00 UTC+3 | Report |
|
Stadium: Nyayo National Stadium Referee: Celso Alvação (Mozambique) |
2022
| 4 June 2023 AFCON qualification | Cameroon | Forfeited | | |
| 17:00 UTC+1 | Report | |||
| Note: FIFA banned Kenya due to governmental interference in their Football Association | ||||
| 8 June 2023 AFCON qualification | Kenya | Forfeited | | |
| 14:00 UTC+1 | Report | |||
| Note: FIFA banned Kenya due to governmental interference in their Football Association | ||||
| September 2023 AFCON qualification | Kenya | Forfeited | | |
| Report | ||||
| Note: FIFA banned Kenya due to governmental interference in their Football Association | ||||
| September 2023 AFCON qualification | Burundi | Forfeited | | |
| Report | ||||
| Note: FIFA banned Kenya due to governmental interference in their Football Association | ||||
2023
| March 2023 AFCON qualification | Kenya | Forfeited | | |
| Note: FIFA banned Kenya due to governmental interference in their Football Association | ||||
| March 2023 AFCON qualification | Namibia | Forfeited | | |
| Note: FIFA banned Kenya due to governmental interference in their Football Association | ||||
Coaching history
- Caretaker managers are listed in italics.
Ray Bachelor (1961)
Jack Gibbons (1966)
Elijah Lidonde (1967)
Eckhard Krautzun (1971)
Jonathan Niva (1972)
Ray Wood (1975)
Grzegorz Polakow (1979)
Stephen Yongo (1979)
Marshall Mulwa (1980–83)
Bernhard Zgoll (1984)
Reinhard Fabisch (1987, 1997, 2001–02)
Christopher Makokha (1988)
Mohammed Kheri (1988–90, 1995, 2005
Gerry Saurer (1992)
Vojo Gardašević (1996)
Abdul Majid (1998)
Christian Chukwu (1998)
James Siang'a (1999–00)
Joe Kadenge (2002)
Jacob "Ghost" Mulee (2003–04, 2007–08, 2010, 2020–2021)
Twahir Muhiddin (2004–05, 2009–10)
Bernard Lama (2006)
Tom Olaba (2006)
Jacob "Ghost" Mulee (2007–08)
Francis Kimanzi (2008–09, 2011–12)
Antoine Hey (2009)
Zedekiah Otieno (2010–11)
Henri Michel (2012)
James Nandwa (2012–13)
Adel Amrouche (2013–14)
Bobby Williamson (2014–16)
Stanley Okumbi (2016–17, 2018)
Paul Put (2017–2018)
Sebastien Migne (2018–2019)
Francis Kimanzi (2019–2020)
Engin Fırat (2021)
Robert Matano (2022-present)
Players
The following players have been selected for the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against Uganda and Rwanda on 10 and 15 November 2021.[9]
Caps and goals are correct as of 10 October 2021, after the match against Mali.
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GK | Ian Otieno | 9 August 1993 | 10 | 0 | |
| 23 | GK | James Saruni | 24 November 1985 | 2 | 0 | |
| 18 | GK | Brian Bwire | 19 June 2000 | 1 | 0 | |
| 5 | DF | Musa Mohammed | 6 June 1991 | 44 | 0 | |
| 3 | DF | Aboud Omar | 9 September 1992 | 40 | 0 | |
| 4 | DF | David Ochieng | 7 October 1992 | 35 | 2 | |
| 13 | DF | Erick Otieno | 27 September 1995 | 34 | 0 | |
| 2 | DF | Joseph Okumu | 26 May 1997 | 15 | 0 | |
| DF | Johnstone Omurwa | 8 August 1998 | 11 | 0 | ||
| 17 | MF | Teddy Akumu | 20 October 1992 | 45 | 0 | |
| 11 | MF | Clifton Miheso | 5 February 1993 | 43 | 7 | |
| MF | Eric Johana Omondi | 18 August 1994 | 36 | 4 | ||
| 10 | MF | Kenneth Muguna | 6 January 1996 | 24 | 2 | |
| 22 | MF | Hassan Abdallah | 6 July 1996 | 16 | 6 | |
| 12 | MF | Samuel Onyango | 30 November 1994 | 13 | 0 | |
| 8 | MF | Duke Abuya | 23 March 1994 | 8 | 0 | |
| 7 | MF | Cliff Nyakeya | 11 January 1995 | 8 | 2 | |
| 6 | MF | Richard Odada | 25 November 2000 | 4 | 0 | |
| 19 | MF | Anthony Wambani | 7 August 1999 | 3 | 0 | |
| 15 | MF | Amos Nondi | 10 February 1999 | 0 | 0 | |
| MF | Timothy Ouma | 10 June 2004 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 21 | MF | Alwyn Tera | 18 January 1997 | 0 | 0 | |
| 14 | FW | Michael Olunga | 26 March 1994 | 44 | 19 | |
| 9 | FW | Ismael Dunga | 24 February 1993 | 0 | 0 | |
The following players have been called up within the past 12 months.
| Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Farouk Shikhalo | 12 October 1996 | 0 | 0 | v. | |
| GK | Joseph Okoth | 3 December 1993 | 0 | 0 | v. | |
| DF | David Owino Odhiambo | 5 April 1988 | 66 | 2 | v. | |
| DF | Joash Onyango | 31 January 1993 | 18 | 0 | v. | |
| DF | Daniel Sakari | 25 January 1999 | 11 | 0 | v. | |
| DF | Eugene Asike | 30 November 1993 | 6 | 0 | v. | |
| DF | Bolton Omwenga | 17 December 1996 | 5 | 0 | v. | |
| DF | David Owino Ambulu | 20 July 1998 | 1 | 0 | v. | |
| DF | Haron Shakava | 26 November 1992 | 6 | 1 | v. | |
| DF | Andrew Juma | 7 August 1997 | 1 | 0 | v. | |
| DF | Siraj Mohammed | 4 December 1998 | 0 | 0 | v. | |
| DF | Frank Odhiambo | 22 October 2002 | 1 | 0 | v. | |
| MF | Lawrence Juma | 17 November 1992 | 13 | 0 | v. | |
| MF | Ismael Athuman | 1 February 1995 | 11 | 0 | v. | |
| MF | Boniface Muchiri | 28 August 1996 | 6 | 0 | v. | |
| MF | Philip Mayaka | 30 November 2000 | 0 | 0 | v. | |
| MF | Eric Zakayo | 17 August 1998 | 0 | 0 | v. | |
| MF | Patilah Omoto | 2 March 1995 | 16 | 0 | v. | |
| MF | Duncan Otieno | 26 May 1994 | 13 | 1 | v. | |
| MF | Jackson Macharia | 15 June 1994 | 1 | 0 | v. | |
| MF | Enoch Momanyi | 0 | 0 | v. | ||
| FW | Erick Kapaito | 25 December 1995 | 3 | 1 | v. | |
| FW | Henry Atola | 12 June 2001 | 2 | 0 | v. | |
| FW | Masoud Juma | 3 February 1996 | 16 | 5 | v. | |
| FW | Elvis Rupia | 12 April 1995 | 2 | 1 | v. | |
Records
- As of 15 November 2021[10]
- Players in bold are still active with it.
|
|
Competition records
FIFA World Cup
| Final | Qualification | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | ||
| did not enter | Declined participation | |||||||||||||||
| did not qualify | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 8 | ||||||||||
| 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |||||||||||
| 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 6 | |||||||||||
| 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 10 | |||||||||||
| 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 | |||||||||||
| 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | |||||||||||
| 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 14 | |||||||||||
| 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | |||||||||||
| 12 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 13 | 18 | |||||||||||
| 12 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 13 | 16 | |||||||||||
| 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 5 | |||||||||||
| 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 4 | |||||||||||
| 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 9 | |||||||||||
| to be determined | to be determined | |||||||||||||||
| Total | 74 | 24 | 18 | 32 | 82 | 101 | ||||||||||
Africa Cup of Nations
| Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Not affiliated to CAF | ||||||||
| did not qualify | ||||||||
| Group stage | 5th | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | |
| did not qualify | ||||||||
| did not enter | ||||||||
| did not qualify | ||||||||
| Group stage | 8th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | |
| 8th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | ||
| 9th | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | ||
| did not qualify | ||||||||
| Withdrew | ||||||||
| did not qualify | ||||||||
| Group stage | 11th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | |
| did not qualify | ||||||||
| Group stage | 17th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 7 | |
| did not qualify | ||||||||
| Disqualified due to FIFA suspension | ||||||||
| to be determined | ||||||||
| Total | 17 | 2 | 4 | 11 | 11 | 31 | ||
African Games
| Year | Round | GP | W | D | L | GS | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 6 |
Suspension
FIFA suspended Kenya from all football activities for 3 months in 2004, due to the interference of the government in football activities. The ban was reversed after the country agreed to create new statutes.[11]
On 25 October 2006, Kenya was suspended from international football for failing to fulfill a January 2006 agreement made to resolve recurrent problems in its federation. FIFA announced that the suspension would be in force until the federation complies with the agreements previously reached.[11][12]
On 14th January 2023, Football Kenya Federation stated that it had suspended 14 players, including six players from Zoo Kericho FC and two coaches for match-fixing allegations.[13][14]
References
- "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 22 December 2022. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
- Courtney, Barrie. "Kenya International matches". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 1 April 2007.
- Chweya, Edward (20 February 2016). "New FKF president Nick Mwendwa sacks Harambee Stars coach Bobby Williamson". Tuko.co.ke – Kenya news. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
- "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking – Associations – Kenya – Men's". FIFA. Archived from the original on 19 February 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
- "FKF unveils new kits in Ksh. 75M deal with Mafro Sports" (video). NTV Kenya. 22 May 2017. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021. Retrieved 15 June 2017 – via YouTube.
- "Kenya 2017–18 Mafro Sports Kits". Todo Sobre Camisetas (in Spanish). 22 May 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
- "2019 Africa Cup of Nations: Kenya secure shock win over Ghana in qualifiers". BBC Sport. 8 September 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
- H., Peter (4 April 2021). "Odibets Signs Deal With Harambee Stars". Gamblers.Africa.
- "Harambee Stars". Twitter. @Harambee__Stars. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
- Mamrud, Roberto. "Kenya - Record International Players". RSSSF.
- "FIFA suspends Kenya". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation sport. 26 October 2006.
- Wandera, Gilbert (25 October 2006). "FIFA Suspends Kenya Indefinitely". Nairobi: AllAfrica.com – The East African Standard.
- "Kenya suspends 16 footballers, coaches over fixing allegations". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
- Communications, F. K. F. (13 January 2023). "Provisional Suspension of Individuals Involved in Match Fixing". Football Kenya Federation. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
External links
- Kenya at FIFA.com
- FoStats.com – Database of all Kenyan players and coaches
- Futaa.com – Kenyan Football Portal