Kenyan football fans will finally get the chance to watch the national team, Harambee Stars, play at home after nearly a year of hosting matches abroad.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has approved Nyayo National Stadium to host Kenya’s crucial Group F 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Gabon on March 24.
The decision comes after a two-day inspection tour led by CAF’s Director of Tournaments and Events, Samson Adamu, and serves as a significant boost for the country ahead of the CAF Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) tournament in August.
The match will act as a test event to assess the readiness of the stadium for the continental championship.
Since mid-2024, Harambee Stars have played their home fixtures in Malawi, Uganda, and South Africa due to the closure of Nyayo and Kasarani stadiums for renovations.
This forced relocation was met with frustration from both players and fans, with captain Michael Olunga and former coach Engin Firat lamenting the absence of home support as a key factor in their failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Local football supporters, who had been unable to travel to cheer on the team, repeatedly voiced their disappointment over delays in the stadium renovations.
Kenya’s government had initially promised timely upgrades, but deadlines continued to shift, leaving Stars without a proper home ground.
Originally scheduled for February, CHAN 2024 was pushed to August 2-30 due to all three host nations—Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania—failing to meet the required infrastructure standards.
Kenya, which is currently fourth in Group F of the World Cup qualifiers behind Burundi, Gabon, and Ivory Coast, will now hope to capitalize on the return of home support.
