Harambee Stars captain Michael Olunga expressed his disappointment at the national team’s inability to host their upcoming World Cup qualifiers in Kenya. Kenya will face Burundi and Ivory Coast in Malawi next month due to a lack of an approved stadium at home. Olunga fears the lack of home support will be a significant hurdle.
“It’s a sad situation,” Olunga told reporters on Friday. “Nyayo Stadium has been under renovation for years, and it’s still not ready. This is a big disadvantage. We saw in Gabon how their fans rallied behind them when they were down. That’s the kind of advantage we’ll miss. Kenyans are hungry to see Harambee Stars play at home in an official match.”
Olunga urged the Ministry of Sports and the government to prioritize bringing Kenyan stadiums up to CAF standards to avoid similar situations in the future. “We want people to enjoy the national team back home,” he emphasized.
Despite the setback, Olunga finds some solace in the familiarity of the Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe, Malawi, where Harambee Stars played during the Four-Nations tournament in March. He believes the neutral ground won’t significantly disadvantage any team.
“It’s unfortunate, but Malawi is familiar territory,” Olunga said. “We’re focused on giving our all in both games. We’re in sync.”
Acknowledging the absence of fans, Olunga remains optimistic. “We would’ve loved to have our fans behind us, but that’s not in the cards this time. Still, anywhere can be home nowadays. The team is strong, and we’ll push each other.”
He downplayed the neutral venue’s impact on the game itself. “It won’t be a major disadvantage because all teams will be effectively playing away. At least we’re familiar with the pitch and temperature, which gives us a slight edge.”
Kenya’s quest for World Cup qualification kicks off on June 7th against Burundi, followed by a crucial match against African champions Ivory Coast four days later.
