Harambee Stars’ preparations for their opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Eritrea have been thrown into uncertainty after players boycotted training over outstanding allowances and wider concerns about their welfare.
The players reported to camp in Nairobi but declined to train on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, demanding that pending payments and other issues surrounding their treatment while on national-team duty be addressed. The dispute comes just two days before Kenya face Eritrea at the Nyayo National Stadium on Saturday, September 26, 2026. CAF has confirmed the fixture as Kenya’s opening Group D match.
Previous commitments
In a statement issued on Thursday, September 24, 2026, the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports acknowledged the concerns surrounding the welfare and allowances of the national team.
The Ministry said it recognised that the welfare of players and the technical team was essential to effective preparation and performance.
It also stated that the Government has supported Harambee Stars and other national teams by facilitating preparations, travel, accommodation, allowances and technical support.
The Ministry said it had honoured financial commitments relating to previous assignments, including Harambee Stars engagements in Zambia, South Africa and Turkey, as well as the Under-20 CECAFA assignment in Tanzania.
It added that outstanding salaries for the Harambee Stars technical bench had also been addressed through Football Kenya Federation (FKF) and the respective members of the national team.
However, the Ministry acknowledged that payments relating to subsequent assignments could still be pending.
“Any payments relating to subsequent assignments that may still be pending are undergoing the requisite administrative processes in consultation with the Football Kenya Federation (FKF).”
The Ministry said administrative and accountability procedures had to be followed in the management of public funds, while urging all parties to continue engaging through the appropriate channels.
Players reportedly owed allowances
The training boycott follows reports that some Harambee Stars players are demanding outstanding allowances from previous international assignments.
FKF Head of Projects and National Teams Athanus Obango said players were seeking payments relating to the Senegal and Lesotho matches, with the amount reported at about KSh80,000 per player.
Kenya played Lesotho twice in June, drawing 1-1 before losing the second encounter 4-1 in Johannesburg. The team had also faced Senegal in a friendly in Turkey in November 2025.
The dispute has reportedly attracted solidarity from players who were not part of some of the previous squads but want their colleagues’ outstanding payments settled.
There have also been complaints concerning accommodation and travel arrangements during national-team assignments, with reports that some players want to meet senior Government officials over the issues.
McCarthy backs players
Commenting on the training standoff, Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy has also spoken publicly about the financial problems affecting the team.
The South African coach said he and members of his technical staff had gone months without receiving their salaries, adding to concerns about the wider administration of the national team.
McCarthy said the players’ welfare had to be addressed because prolonged delays over promised allowances were making it difficult to manage the squad.
“The players come first before anyone else. Players’ welfare is more important.”
The coach also disclosed that his technical team had faced unresolved work-permit issues, with FKF later saying it was working with Government agencies to process the required documentation.
FKF and Ministry working on payments
FKF has said it is engaging the Ministry of Sports and other Government offices to resolve outstanding payments.
The federation previously said the Ministry had confirmed that an outstanding payment linked to an earlier Harambee Stars assignment had been cleared and was expected to reflect on Thursday, September 24. It also acknowledged that other payments were at different stages of processing.
The Ministry’s latest statement similarly maintained that pending payments were undergoing the required administrative processes.
It called for constructive engagement to prevent administrative matters from interfering with preparations for the Eritrea match.
“At this critical stage of our preparations, Government expects all parties to continue engaging constructively and through the appropriate channels so that administrative matters do not unnecessarily disrupt the team’s preparations or shift focus from the important task ahead.”
Eritrea already preparing
The timing of the dispute has increased attention on Kenya’s preparations, with Eritrea already in the country and training ahead of Saturday’s encounter.
CAF lists Kenya and Eritrea in Group D alongside South Africa and Guinea. Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania are automatically qualified for the 2027 finals as co-hosts, meaning the qualifying matches are primarily being used to provide competitive football, while the highest-ranked team apart from Kenya, Uganda or Tanzania in their respective groups will also qualify.
Kenya will host Eritrea at Nyayo on September 26 before travelling to Conakry to face Guinea on October , 2026.
The Government, meanwhile, has reiterated its commitment to supporting Harambee Stars and football development as Kenya prepares to co-host AFCON 2027 with Tanzania and Uganda.
“The Government remains steadfast in its commitment to the welfare of our players and technical teams and will continue providing the necessary support to Harambee Stars and the wider development of football as Kenya prepares for the PAMOJA AFCON 2027.” The statement said.
With the Eritrea fixture now only days away, attention will be on whether the outstanding issues are resolved sufficiently for McCarthy’s squad to resume full preparations and take to the pitch at Nyayo on Saturday.
