The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has taken a bold step toward rebuilding Kenya’s youth football structures after announcing a landmark partnership with Acakoro Football Academy — a move the federation says will finally give the country’s young talent a clear, long-term development pathway.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed on Tuesday, establishes Kenya’s first fully residential high-performance system for youth national teams, a model FKF President Hussein Mohammed described as the “missing link” in Kenya’s football growth.
Beginning in December 2025, FKF and Acakoro will conduct nationwide scouting for the best 2011-born players across five regions. The standout youngsters will earn full scholarships to join a structured residential programme at Acakoro’s sprawling 25-acre academy in Homa Bay.
A New Era for Youth Development
The new programme blends CBC-aligned education, elite training, sports science, modern analytics, and life-skills development — all within an environment designed to mirror international football academies.
Crucially, the selected players will be integrated directly into the FKF’s U15 and U17 national team pathway, forming the core of a squad targeting the FIFA U17 World Cup 2027 in Qatar.
FKF President Hussein Mohammed said the initiative is about confronting long-standing gaps that have slowed Kenya’s progress at youth level.
“Kenya has world-class talent. What we have lacked is a structured, long-term development pathway,” he said. “We’ve openly admitted that the performance of our youth national teams has not met expectations — and addressing this requires more than words. This partnership with Acakoro creates the country’s first residential high-performance system for youth football.”
Mohammed added that the deal aligns with FKF’s ongoing reforms — including hosting CHAN 2024, securing a 10-year SportPesa Premier League sponsorship, revamping governance, rebuilding FIFA relations, and reviving grassroots competitions.
“Kenyan football is moving forward — not perfectly, and not as fast as we all want, but positively and deliberately. This partnership is a key part of the structures that will secure long-term success.”
Acakoro Sees a Turning Point for Kenyan Talent
Acakoro Director Lukas Mott said the academy is ready to shoulder the responsibility of shaping the next generation of elite Kenyan footballers.
“This partnership unlocks Kenya’s football potential,” Mott said. “By combining education, elite training, and national structures, we are finally giving young players a real chance to reach the world stage. The dream of seeing Kenya at the U17 World Cup is now a coordinated national effort.”
Under the agreement, Acakoro will provide daily performance training, technical expertise, sports science support, and a safe residential environment. FKF will oversee the national pipeline, ensuring players transition smoothly from U15 to U17 level under a unified philosophy.
A Blueprint for the Future
The FKF–Acakoro partnership is expected to serve as a model for future youth academies, showing how national football structures and high-performance development systems can work hand in hand.
As Kenya sets its sights on the 2027 U17 World Cup and beyond, the federation believes this collaboration could be the turning point that transforms raw potential into world-class talent.
