The Kenya national football team, Harambee Stars, has arrived in Kigali, Rwanda, to participate in the upcoming FIFA Series 2026 tournament. Head coach Benni McCarthy has reassured Kenyan fans that the mistakes seen in their previous heavy defeat will not be repeated.
The team, alongside its technical bench, landed in Kigali on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, ahead of the international friendly competition scheduled to take place from March 26 to March 30.
Prior to their departure, the squad held a training session on Monday evening, March 23, at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi. The preparations are expected to continue in Rwanda as the team fine-tunes its strategy for the tournament.
Speaking after the training session, McCarthy acknowledged the team’s recent struggles, particularly the 8-0 loss to Senegal in their last friendly match, but emphasized that the upcoming tournament presents a fresh opportunity.
“We all know how our last match went,” he said. “This is an opportunity to do something positive for the Kenyan fans who support us. As you know, there are things we have been working on up to this point.”
The coach expressed confidence in the team’s progress, noting that despite recent setbacks, the overall direction remains promising.
“We have rebuilt as much as possible, and I believe the team is heading in the right direction. Today’s result does not define our future, and it should not discourage us,” he added.
Kenya will also use the FIFA Series as part of its preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which the country will co-host alongside Uganda and Tanzania.
The FIFA Series 2026, organized by FIFA, aims to provide international friendly matches for national teams that have limited opportunities to compete regularly.
Harambee Stars will face Estonia at Amahoro Stadium on Friday, March 27, before taking on either Rwanda or Grenada both in Group B on March 30.
