)
Harambee Stars do not play until November and have lately come up against very lowly ranked opposition.
The subdued rankings of Harambee Stars opposition in the recent past have irked a former international who is now turning the heat on Football Kenya Federation to ditch the lowly ranked countries and get 'worthy opponents for the national team.
Former Harambee Stars striker Boniface Ambani wants FKF to arrange ‘tough’ friendly matches for Harambee Stars in order to make them competitive enough for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers scheduled to kick off in November.
Ambani added that the friendlies against the ‘tougher’ footballing nations would help give the players much needed exposure which will help them deal with the pressures of facing such teams competitively, even if they suffer humiliating defeats.
)
16:40 - 17.07.2023
Ambani expounds how Harambee Stars can make history from tricky World Cup qualifying group
The former Kenyan international believes has explained how Harambee Stars can qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
Kenya were placed in Pool B alongside Ivory Coast, Gabon and Gambia, three very tricky teams. With the side not set to play competitively until November, Ambani wants the federation to arrange for tough friendly matches against teams like Nigeria and South Africa.
“We should take part in friendly matches against competitive teams like Nigeria and South Africa. The teams we play should be strong. Even if we get trounced 6-0, we should not be afraid of defeats because they will make us learn from experience and gain confidence,” Ambani told NTV.
“By the time we are getting into the real competitions, everyone will be ready and the players will be able to compete at that stage.
)
15:00 - 17.07.2023
Firat - What Kenya must do to raise chance of qualifying for 2026 World Cup
"These are small details that must be addressed going into the qualifiers otherwise Kenya are not favorites," Firat said.
“Players get affected by stage fright. They see players like Sadio Mane playing at the highest level, which affects them when they meet face to face in competitive games. If the players can be given such exposure earlier, it can help big time.
“The mistake we make is that we usually want to face these teams in real matches and qualifiers, but we have not been playing with them earlier.
Ambani also asked the government to support the side more, and challenged the federation to allow the coaching staff led by Engin Firat to pick the team on merit, not reputation.
)
15:30 - 16.07.2023
FKFPL: How McKinstry turned Gor Mahia hotshot Benson Omala into a goal scoring machine
Under McKinstry, the Gor Mahia forward has gone from an ordinary goal-getter to a record chasing machine. Here is why.
“The government does not support the national team at times and so does the federation,” Ambani told NTV, “ Most times, they interfere with the selection of the team,” he added.
“Some of the officials usually want their players included in the squad for personal gains so that they can gain more caps and improve their reputation. At times, a player who should be in the squad on merit does not get picked.
“I remember there was a time when the national team called up two goalkeepers from the same team (Kariobangi Sharks), the number one and the number two (Brian Bwire and John Oyemba), which left me wondering whether other teams had keepers that were good enough.
“These are some of the things we should weed out of the system. From there, look for money, hit camp early, take part in multiple friendly matches.”
)
19:00 - 02.06.2023
FOOTBALL Revealed: What Nyayo and Kasarani Stadia will require in order to be ready to host 2027 AFCON
Kenya, alongside Tanzania and Uganda launched an 'East Africa Pamoja' bid to host the 2027 AFCON in May.
Related content
)
15:02 - 17.07.2023
2026 FIFA World Cup: Super Eagles legend Okocha cautions Nigeria ahead tough qualifiers
With Nigeria and South Africa in the same 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying group, Super Eagles legend Austine Jay Jay Okocha has called for caution.
)
07:20 - 15.07.2023
FOOTBALL Harambee Stars coach has little hope in Kenya’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers
The Turkish tactician feels Kenya ‘are not favourites’ as they will have it rough in their qualification journey
)
08:11 - 13.07.2023
FOOTBALL Denis Oliech: This is why most Kenyan footballers struggle to turn professional in Europe
The iconic former Harambee Stars footballer has revealed why many Kenyans struggle to create a career abroad.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)