Kenya’s national football team, Harambee Stars, has officially withdrawn from the CECAFA Four Nations Tournament, just days before the competition was scheduled to begin. This unexpected decision comes less than two weeks before the start of the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN).
In a statement released on Monday, July 21, the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) announced the withdrawal, stating that the decision was based on a recommendation from the national team’s technical team, which is led by Head Coach Benni McCarthy.
“The Football Kenya Federation wishes to notify the public that the Harambee Stars have withdrawn from the CECAFA Four Nations Tournament in Tanzania,” the statement read.
“This decision follows detailed assessments and advice from the team’s technical bench. The current conditions were found to be unfavorable for the team’s participation and would have interfered with proper preparation for CHAN.”
Tournament Details and Teams
The CECAFA Four Nations Tournament was set to kick off on Monday, July 21, at Karatu Stadium in Tanzania. The tournament, designed as a build-up to the CHAN games, was to feature four teams: Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and guest nation Senegal.
Ironically, the Harambee Stars were scheduled to face Uganda in the tournament’s opening match. In fact, the team had already landed in Tanzania and was preparing for the match when the decision to pull out was made.
🇰🇪 Why Kenya Pulled Out
According to FKF, the decision wasn’t taken lightly. The coaching and technical staff reviewed the circumstances surrounding the tournament and concluded that continuing with the competition would not be in the best interest of the team’s CHAN preparation.
“The players and coaching team will now return home to Kenya, where they can focus fully on CHAN preparations. We want to ensure the team has the best possible environment to train and compete,” FKF stated.
The federation added that its main priority is to give the national team all the support it needs to represent Kenya proudly and competitively on the continental stage.
Tournament in Jeopardy
Kenya’s sudden withdrawal has created uncertainty around the CECAFA Four Nations Tournament. With just three teams left—Uganda, Tanzania, and Senegal—the tournament’s structure and scheduling have been disrupted.
Had Kenya informed organizers earlier, adjustments could have been made. For example, Senegal only joined the tournament three days before kickoff to replace Congo Brazzaville, which had withdrawn citing “logistical difficulties.”
But Kenya’s last-minute exit, especially after their arrival in Tanzania, has complicated things further for the tournament organizers. It’s unclear if the event will proceed as planned or if another team can be urgently found to take Kenya’s place.
🇰🇪 Focus Now Shifts to CHAN 2024
For Harambee Stars, all attention now turns to preparing for the 2024 African Nations Championship. By stepping away from the CECAFA tournament, the team hopes to regroup, train under better conditions, and approach CHAN with stronger tactical readiness and team cohesion.
FKF concluded their statement by reaffirming their commitment to building a competitive team:
“Our goal is to ensure the national team performs at the highest level, and that means making tough decisions when necessary. We remain fully dedicated to supporting our players and coaches as they gear up for CHAN.”
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