Few events in Kenyan football history have generated as much conversation or controversy as the Harambee Stars withdrawal from the CECAFA Four Nations tournament in July 2025. What should have been a pivotal warm-up for the upcoming CHAN 2024 tournament rapidly transformed into a talking point revealing the complexities, ambitions, and challenges of African football at the highest level.
A planned path to CHAN 2024 quickly derailed
Heading into the CECAFA Four Nations, the Harambee Stars’ story seemed almost script-perfect. Under the relatively fresh stewardship of head coach Benni McCarthy, the Kenyan men’s national team arrived in Arusha, Tanzania on Saturday, July 19. The purpose was singular yet vital: to prepare and fine-tune strategies ahead of the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), set to kick off in Nairobi less than two weeks later.
Initially, the tournament’s lineup appeared promising. Kenya was scheduled to test itself against Tanzania, Uganda, and reigning CHAN champions Senegal. After a round of fixture reshuffles prompted by logistical issues with the Senegalese delegation, expectations remained high that the friendly matches would allow McCarthy to measure his squad’s strengths and weaknesses before the continental showdown.
Cracks behind the scenes: rescheduling, then withdrawal
Plans began to unravel almost immediately. On the eve of the opening match, CECAFA issued an announcement: both the Kenya-Uganda and Tanzania-Senegal openers had to be rescheduled after the Senegalese delegation reported logistical delays. Kenya’s campaign would now begin against Tanzania, with fixtures against Senegal and Uganda to follow. Yet by Monday, July 21—just hours before the kick-off whistle was to blow—news broke that would upend everything. Kenya was withdrawing from the tournament.
The reason? According to a decisive statement from the Football Kenya Federation (FKF), the technical bench led by McCarthy had determined that the prevailing conditions in Arusha were unfit for effective participation and preparation. Days of anticipation and months of planning came to a sudden halt with this announcement, sparking heated debate across the sporting fraternity.
Inside Benni McCarthy’s decision
To understand why McCarthy made such a dramatic call, it’s crucial to examine the environment faced by the Harambee Stars upon arrival in Tanzania.
- The pitch at the Black Rhino Academy in Karatu was a particular source of concern, as it was an artificial turf situated in a remote location far from Arusha, lacking convenient access and supporting infrastructure,
- The hotel accommodation fell far short of international standards, with conditions McCarthy deemed below what a national team should accept,
- The training facilities provided were deemed unsafe and sub-standard, especially when compared to the newly refurbished training grounds in Nairobi that the squad had just experienced.
As a coach with experience at the highest levels, McCarthy did not shy away from voicing his discontent. After the tournament organizers failed to address his concerns, he made the recommendation to withdraw the team. FKF heeded his advice, reiterating in public communications that player safety, dignity, and optimal preparation must take precedence over exposure or participation at any cost.
The emotional fallout and what comes next
For players, coaches, and supporters alike, the decision to pull out of the CECAFA Four Nations tournament was undoubtedly emotional. The matches were meant not only to sharpen tactical play but to galvanize unity, confidence, and momentum ahead of a major home tournament. Instead, Kenya’s withdrawal raised hard questions about African football organization, athlete welfare, and what it truly means to compete with pride and dignity on the continental stage.
One can sense the frustration and disappointment in McCarthy’s words before the withdrawal. He had championed the idea that these competitive friendlies were essential to see where the team stands, what works, and what needs fixing. After investing heavily in this buildup—both technically and emotionally—choosing to step away was not a decision taken lightly. Still, the FKF’s swift pivot mirrored a deep commitment to providing the national team the best conditions possible, even if it meant sacrificing valuable match experience for integrity and safety.
Focus pivots fully to CHAN 2024 in Nairobi
As the dust settles and the Harambee Stars return to Nairobi, attention turns squarely to CHAN 2024. The timing of the withdrawal has made preparations more complex, especially as Kenya faces a daunting group with DR Congo, Angola, Morocco, and Zambia. Yet, the team’s resolve is evident. McCarthy remains bullish about the squad’s chances, embracing the “Group of Death” moniker as a challenge rather than a burden.
“The boys in camp are ready, the sessions have been going on well. Our target at the moment is to win the tournament. It is not going to be easy, but that is the goal,” McCarthy told reporters before the ill-fated trip to Tanzania.
Now, the Harambee Stars must make the most of their remaining time, possibly plugging in ad-hoc friendlies or focusing on high-intensity training at home. The group stage fixtures will be held on home turf at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, offering both comfort and pressure.
Lessons for the future of Kenyan and regional football
The fall-out from Kenya’s withdrawal goes beyond the specifics of a single tournament.
- It galvanizes a demand for higher standards in African football logistics and hospitality,
- It reveals a new level of determination in Kenya’s football leadership to put player welfare first,
- It forges a focal point for future dialogue on collaboration, facilities, and respect for athletes competing on the international stage.
For supporters, the Harambee Stars remain a source of inspiration, embodying both the vulnerability and resiliency that define not just sporting excellence, but the very spirit of competition. If the decision to walk away from CECAFA was painful, it was made with the hope of returning stronger when it matters most.
Conclusion: more than a withdrawal, a statement of intent
No one expected Kenya’s path to the 2024 African Nations Championship to take such a dramatic twist. Withdrawal from the CECAFA Four Nations tournament may have denied the team a few hours on the pitch, but it underscored an unspoken truth: to compete with pride, basic standards must be met. With their sights now set on CHAN 2024, the Harambee Stars’ strongest statement may not have been made with a ball at their feet, but with the courage to demand better for Kenyan football’s future.
