Former Harambee Stars captain Dennis Oliech has expressed his opinion that Kenya’s upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Burundi and Ivory Coast should have been hosted in a neighboring country, rather than Malawi. Due to the renovation of Kasarani and Nyayo Stadiums for CHAN 2024 and the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, Kenya lacks a approved venue, forcing the country to seek alternative locations.
Oliech believes that hosting the matches in a closer location, such as Uganda or Tanzania, would have allowed for easier travel and more home support for the team. “Why go so far when we have friends like Uganda and Tanzania who could offer us a venue?” he told Pulse Sports Kenya. Oliech thinks playing without a partisan crowd will make it tougher for Kenya to win, and suggests that hosting the matches in a neighboring country would have been more ideal.
“The chances of winning are now less, but it’s football and you never know. However, the game shouldn’t have been taken that far,” he added. Oliech even offered a personal example, recalling when he hired two buses to transport 60 fans to a match against Uganda in Kampala. “Tell me about Malawi now? They’ve taken it too far, maybe they have their reasons, but a ticket to Uganda, Tanzania, or Rwanda is affordable.” Additionally, Oliech noted that playing in Uganda would not have been possible due to the Mandela National Stadium being used by the Uganda Cranes for their home matches against Botswana and Algeria next month. Tanzania could have been a viable option, as they will be playing away from home against Zambia.
(Source: Pulse Sports Kenya)
