Kenya: Harambee Stars refuse to train ahead of match against Eritrea

The players and technical staff of Kenya have decided not to train ahead of their match against Eritrea, scheduled for Saturday as part of the 2027 AFCON qualifiers. Gathered at the national team camp, the Kenyan internationals voiced several demands concerning their working conditions and are seeking answers from the authorities.

The players are notably demanding payment of several allowances they say they have not received, some of which date back to last year. They are also challenging the way the national team is managed and denouncing what they consider to be a lack of professionalism.

Accommodation conditions are also among their grievances. The Kenyan internationals have particularly complained about the quality of the hotels they were allegedly offered during previous trips, both in Kenya and abroad.

Travel arrangements also challenged

The players are also challenging the organisation of certain trips. They accuse the Football Kenya Federation of prioritising less expensive options, including flights with long layovers, even though more direct routes would be available.

Before resuming training, the Harambee Stars want to meet representatives of the Ministry of Sports, or even President William Ruto directly. They do not want to limit their discussions to the president of the Football Kenya Federation, Hussein Mohammed.

Eritrea ahead of Guinea and Rwanda

Kenya will face Eritrea on September 26 in their first match of the 2027 AFCON qualifiers. The Harambee Stars will then travel to Guinea on October 1 for their second qualifying fixture.

The Kenyan national team will round off this international window with a friendly against Rwanda on October 5 in Kigali. The resumption of training therefore remains dependent on the outcome of discussions between the players, the coaching staff and the Kenyan authorities.

Nouya M'toama

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Versatile journalist specializing in sports and political news, with extensive experience across radio, print and digital media platforms.

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AFCON - Africa Cup of Nations