Harambee Stars head coach Engin Firat has for a long time lamented on the difficulties the team grapples with while playing competitive home matches in unfamiliar territories. Stars hosted the last two rounds of 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Burundi and Ivory Coast in Malawi due to lack of an approved facility in the country. The team is expected to find a venue for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Zimbabwe, set for next month, as the stadia problem is yet to be solved. ##NAJAVA_MECA_1792655158269518##It remains uncertain when Stars will play a competitive match in Nairobi as the renovation works at Kasarani Stadium are yet to be completed. Stars might have to do without home advantage in the qualifiers but this will not stop the team from putting in a mighty fight and securing a return ticket to the biennial tournament. Harambee Stars to seek new ‘home’ for AFCON qualifiers after new development in Ugandan stadiumFirat, who once again regretted that the team will play a home match in a foreign country, is optimistic of inspiring Stars back to the AFCON after missing the last two editions. “It is tough and sad for us as a team. It is unfortunate that Kenyan football fans will not see and support the team. We have been playing away without fan support from the time the suspension was lifted. It is not in our hands, as a team, and there is nothing we can do. We will try our best to qualify,” he said. The Turkish gaffer, for the umpteenth time, called on the authorities to hasten the renovation of the country’s major facilities and the general improvement of Sports infrastructure . On-fire Olunga selected in Qatar Stars League Team of the WeekFirat said the surest way of the country reaping maximum returns from football was investing in facilities and ensuring all competitions are staged in conducive environment. “We have a big infrastructure problem. Unless we solve it, we will never realized our full potential, football wise,” he added.
