Kenya will open its Group D AFCON qualification campaign against Eritrea on Saturday, but preparations have been disrupted. Players are demanding payment for allowances accrued from their last four international assignments.
Bonface Osano, Marabou News Agency
Kenya national football team, Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy has called on the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) to address emerging issues in the national team camp, as Kenya prepares to begin its 2027 EA Pamoja AFCON qualification campaign.
Kenya will open its Group D campaign against Eritrea on Saturday, September 26, at Nyayo Stadium before travelling to face Guinea on October 1.
But preparations have been disrupted. Players are yet to train since Tuesday over unresolved welfare and logistical concerns. They are demanding payment for allowances accrued from their last four international assignments before returning to training.
They are also seeking better travel and accommodation arrangements during away assignments, citing poor standards in previous camps.
The players have further requested an audience with president William Ruto and the top brass at the ministry of sports to present their grievances.
“I’d love for the federation to be a little bit more proactive and not let anything come into this camp that shouldn’t concern us. We must be here for football and nothing else, work on what we need to do, getting the best preparation that we need, instead of fighting all kinds of things. I’ve not thought about football once because I’m constantly defending the team, the players and talking about things that don’t matter to me,” McCarthy lamented.
The South African coach also defended himself against criticism over his presence in Kenya and his monitoring of local talent.
McCarthy revealed that he and his technical staff have been working without work permits since their appointment in March 2025. He also pointed out that the domestic leagues are yet to commence, limiting his opportunities to assess players in competitive action.
“I think there are a lot of things that can change, that the federation can do better, and I hope they can do because we want Kenyan football to prosper. It can only prosper when the federation does what they need to do to make sure that football is run properly, and then that will allow me to do my job with the team correctly as well,” McCarthy added.
Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania will jointly host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, but the three hosts are still required to participate in the qualification process.
Kenya’s preparations come against the backdrop of a prolonged football crisis, with disputes and court cases delaying the start of the 2026/27 FKF Premier League season.
For McCarthy, resolving the off-field issues is crucial if Harambee Stars are to focus fully on their preparations for the continental campaign.
Marabou News Agency
