Harambee Stars coach, Engin Firat, has blamed Football Kenya Federation’s (FKF) disorganisation for the team’s failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).
Kenya’s 1-1 draw against Zimbabwe on Friday night in South Africa at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane ended their qualification campaign.
Firat’s post-match remarks painted the picture of a coach grappling with the weight of expectation versus the harsh realities of the state of affairs.
“I can understand everybody. It’s their right to be angry because we wanted to go 100 per cent. So, none of us is happy about it,” Firat said.
In explaining his team's latest setback, Firat did not mince words in lamenting about the issues plaguing Kenyan football.
“We have to realise what we have and stop dreaming. You remember how many times I have spoken about problems in Kenyan football, and they never fixed the problem. Things are getting worse," he said.
Kenya defender Erick Ouma gets past a Zimbabwean opponent during a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match in Polokwane, outh Africa on November 15, 2024.
"As long as we don’t solve these problems then it will take more years. Why don’t we go after the reality that we have in Kenyan football and stop dreaming? Solve the problems,” he went on.
The match was critically important for Harambee Stars, with a win essential to keep their Afcon dreams alive.
However, despite showing flashes of brilliance, Kenya ultimately failed to secure a win, culminating in a third-place finish in Group J.
Despite initial optimism from coach Firat, who had declared qualification for Afcon 2025 as a non-negotiable goal, Kenya’s performance has been far from satisfactory.
The team has only managed one win in five qualifying matches, with two defeats and two draws.
With just five points from five matches, Kenya has four points behind second-placed Zimbabwe with one match remaining in the qualifiers. The team’s last Afcon appearance was in 2019, where they failed to advance past the group stage.
Kenya defender Erick Ouma controls the ball under the close watch of a Zimbabwean opponent during a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match in Polokwane, South Africa on November 15, 2024.
Photo credit: Peter Dube | Nation Media Group
One of Firat's main concerns is inadequate infrastructure within Kenyan football. The absence of a Caf-approved stadium has compelled the team to play their home matches in the neigbouring Uganda.
Firat also cited the lack of training facilities, which he believes significantly hindered the team's preparation and performance.
“In Kenya, ‘it’s only we want’. By giving what? In three years, we have never played a match at home (in Kenya). Show me another nation that has gone through that. We have no fans, nothing, we have no support," he said.
“We don’t even have a training field in Kenya. Show me one training field. Which training field (in Kenya) can you compare to another country? Firat posed.
“As long as we don’t solve these problems, what would you want to do? Do we change something? Federation change? Coach change? What will change at the end? Nothing. There is a reason why the national team did not qualify for the last two Afcons.”
Kenya will conclude their disappointing Afcon qualifying campaign with match against Namibia on Tuesday, November 19, 2024.
Group leaders Cameroon and Zimbabwe have already sealed their places in Africa’s showpiece tournament that will be staged n Morocco in 2025.
