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Nickname(s) | Harambee Stars | ||
---|---|---|---|
Association | Football Kenya Federation (FKF) | ||
Confederation | CAF (Africa) | ||
Sub-confederation | CECAFA (Central & East Africa) | ||
Head coach | Benni McCarthy | ||
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 | 108 ![]() | ||
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; 14 December, 1932) [2] | |||
Africa Cup of Nations | |||
Appearances | 7 (first in 1972 ) | ||
Best result | Group stage (1972, 1988, 1990, 1992, 2004, 2019) | ||
Four Nations Football Tournament | |||
Appearances | 1 (first in 2024 ) | ||
Best result | Champions (2024) | ||
COSAFA Cup | |||
Appearances | 2 (first in 2013 ) | ||
Best result | Group stage (2013, 2024) | ||
CECAFA Cup | |||
Appearances | 80 (first in 1926 ) | ||
Best result | Champions (1926, 1931, 1941, 1942, 1944, 1946, 1953, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1966, 1967, 1971, 1975, 1981, 1982, 1983, 2002, 2013, 2017) |
The Kenya national football team, colloquially known as the Harambee Stars, represents Kenya in association football. It is controlled by the Football Kenya Federation, the governing body of 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). The team plays its home games primarily at the Nyayo National Stadium in the capital, Nairobi.
The team's colloquial name, the Harambee Stars, [3] [4] derives from Harambee, a Kenyan tradition of community self-help events such as fundraising and development activities. The word means "all pull together" in Swahili, and is the official motto of Kenya, appearing on its coat of arms. [5] [6]
FIFA suspended Kenya from all football activities for three 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. [7]
On 25 October 2006, Kenya was again suspended from international football, for failing to fulfil a January 2006 agreement made to resolve recurrent problems in its federation. FIFA announced that the suspension would be in force until the federation complied with the agreements previously reached. [7] [8]
Kenya qualified for the 2019 AFCON. The head coach at the time, Sébastien Migné, was appointed in May 2018, [9] and since his appointment Kenya has climbed back into the top 100 FIFA ranked nations. [10]
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 would use red jerseys for home matches, white jerseys for away matches, and green jerseys for matches played on neutral venues. [11] [12]
On 8 September 2018, Kenya earned a win over 4-time African champions Ghana, winning 1–0. [13]
On 14 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. [14] [15]
The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.
Win Draw Loss Fixture
7 June 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification | Kenya ![]() | 1–1 | ![]() | Lilongwe, Malawi |
15:00 UTC+2 |
| Report |
| Stadium: Bingu National Stadium Referee: Jean Ouattara (Burkina Faso) |
11 June 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification | Kenya ![]() | 0–0 | ![]() | Lilongwe, Malawi |
15:00 UTC+2 | Report | Stadium: Bingu National Stadium Attendance: 6,000 Referee: Jalal Jayed (Morocco) |
27 June 2024 COSAFA Cup | Zambia ![]() | 0–2 | ![]() | Gqeberha, South Africa |
Report | Stadium: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium |
30 June 2024 COSAFA Cup | Kenya ![]() | 0–2 | ![]() | Gqeberha, South Africa |
Report | Stadium: Isaac Wolfson Stadium |
2 July 2024 COSAFA Cup | Kenya ![]() | 2–0 | ![]() | Gqeberha, South Africa |
12:00 |
| Report | Stadium: Isaac Wolfson Stadium |
6 September 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification | Kenya ![]() | 0–0 | ![]() | |
16:00 UTC+3 |
20 March 2026 World Cup qualification | Gambia ![]() | 3–3 | ![]() | Abidjan, Ivory Coast |
19:00 UTC+0 | Report (FIFA) Report (CAF) | Stadium: Alassane Ouattara Stadium Referee: Abdou Abdel Mefire (Cameroon) |
23 March 2026 World Cup qualification | Kenya ![]() | 1–2 | ![]() | Nairobi, Kenya |
16:00 UTC+3 |
| Report (FIFA) Report (CAF) | Stadium: Nyayo National Stadium |
September 2026 World Cup qualification | Kenya ![]() | v | ![]() |
September 2026 World Cup qualification | Kenya ![]() | v | ![]() |
October 2026 World Cup qualification | Burundi ![]() | v | ![]() |
October 2026 World Cup qualification | Ivory Coast ![]() | v | ![]() |
Ray Batchelor was appointed the first national team coach in 1961. However, there was dissent regarding his managerial skills, and a revolt among players during a CECAFA Cup game in Zanzibar [16] led to him being forced out. In 1963, not long after Kenyan independence was declared, Kenyan international Peter Oronge took over coaching duties; [17] however, he disappeared just hours before a Jamhuri Day friendly against reigning champions Ghana in 1965. His absence was never explained, and Batchelor was called in as an emergency replacement. This match was the team's worst defeat, with a final score of 13–2 against Ghana. At the time, the Ghanaians were a very strong team with a dangerous striker in the form of Ben Acheampong. Two days later, after Batchelor had reorganised the team, the Kenyans and Ghanaians drew in a friendly match. [18]
Managers since 1961 include (caretaker managers in italics): [19] [17]
The following players were selected for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – CAF Group F matches against Gambia and
Gabon on 20 and 23 March 2025. [20]
Caps and goals are correct as of 19 November 2024, after the match against Namibia .
The following players have also been called up to the Kenya squad within the last twelve months.
--->
Rank | Player | Caps | Goals | Career |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Musa Otieno | 90 | 9 | 1993–2009 |
2 | Jonathan Niva | 88 | 10 | 1965–1976 |
3 | Allan Thigo | 81 | 11 | 1969–1978 |
4 | John Nyawanga | 80 | 17 | 1965–1976 |
5 | Dennis Oliech | 76 | 34 | 2002–2015 |
6 | Robert Mambo Mumba | 72 | 13 | 2000–2009 |
7 | Titus Mulama | 71 | 8 | 2001–2012 |
8 | Francis Onyiso | 70 | 0 | 1996–2011 |
9 | Wilberforce Mulamba | 68 | 14 | 1978–1988 |
James Siang'a | 68 | 0 | 1963–1975 |
Rank | Player | Goals | Caps | Ratio | Career |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | William Ouma | 35 | 66 | 0.53 | 1965–1977 |
2 | Dennis Oliech | 34 | 76 | 0.45 | 2002–2015 |
3 | Elijah Lidonde | 33 | 26 | 1.27 | 1950–1961 |
4 | Michael Olunga | 31 | 64 | 0.48 | 2015–present |
5 | Ali Kajo | 26 | 32 | 0.81 | 1959–1969 |
Livingstone Madegwa | 26 | 49 | 0.53 | 1964–1972 | |
7 | Joe Kadenge | 25 | 63 | 0.4 | 1957–1970 |
8 | John Baraza | 21 | 52 | 0.4 | 2002–2011 |
9 | Daniel Nicodemus | 17 | 34 | 0.5 | 1963–1972 |
Mike Origi | 17 | 48 | 0.35 | 1990–2004 | |
John Nyawanga | 17 | 80 | 0.21 | 1965–1976 | |
FIFA World Cup record | Qualification record | |||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | ||
1930 to 1958 | Part of ![]() | Part of ![]() | ||||||||||||||
1962 to 1970 | 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 | 14 | 14 | ||||||||||
![]() ![]() | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | ||||||||||
![]() | 12 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 11 | 17 | ||||||||||
![]() | 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 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 8 | |||||||||
![]() ![]() ![]() | To be determined | |||||||||||||||
![]() | ||||||||||||||||
Total | 0/16 | 80 | 25 | 22 | 33 | 92 | 108 |
African Nations Championship record | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA |
![]() | Did not qualify | |||||||
![]() | ||||||||
![]() | ||||||||
![]() | ||||||||
![]() | ||||||||
![]() | ||||||||
![]() | ||||||||
![]() ![]() ![]() | Qualified as co-hosts | |||||||
Total | TBD | 1/8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Africa Cup of Nations record | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 | |||||||
![]() | Did not qualify | |||||||
![]() ![]() ![]() | Qualified as co-hosts | |||||||
![]() | To be determined | |||||||
Total | Group stage | 7/36 | 17 | 2 | 4 | 11 | 11 | 31 |
Year | Round | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 2nd | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 6 |