The Football Kenya Federation has sent a high level delegation to Europe to recruit players of Kenyan descent as part of efforts to strengthen the Kenya national football team ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
The group is led by FKF vice president McDonald Mariga and Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy. Their mission is to meet and assess eligible players currently based in Europe and encourage them to commit to representing Kenya internationally.
Kenya will co host the tournament with Uganda and Tanzania, with the three nations staging the 36th edition of the continental competition under the “Pamoja” bid.
The FKF says the recruitment effort is aimed at ensuring the national team is competitive when the tournament arrives in East Africa.
The presence of McCarthy on the trip is intended to provide technical assessment of the targeted players and ensure any additions fit his tactical approach.
The delegation is also working to address eligibility and documentation requirements early in the process to avoid administrative delays that have affected previous call ups.
Kenya is also preparing for the tournament off the pitch, with construction of the Talanta Sports City Stadium and renovations at Moi International Sports Centre part of the infrastructure programme tied to the event.
