Kenya’s national football team faced a devastating setback as Harambee Stars went down 8–0 to Senegal in a friendly match on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, in Antalya, Turkey.
From the first whistle, the Lions of Teranga dominated possession and created scoring chances almost at will, leaving Kenya struggling to keep pace at the Mardan Stadium.
By halftime, Senegal had already scored six goals, effectively ending any hope of a competitive contest. The second half saw the former African champions add two more goals, completing a humiliating victory that exposed cracks across Kenya’s defensive, midfield, and attacking setups.
Following the defeat, Football Kenya Federation President Hussein Mohammed openly admitted the team’s performance was unacceptable.
“Truth be told, today is a bad day in the office. The results from today’s games are a wake-up call to us. To play and compete against the best in the world requires deliberate investment in a serious and professional technical team and player development programs,” he said.
He further committed to taking steps to prevent a repeat of such results, stressing that accountability starts from the top. “We have no excuses. I apologise for these results. We shall fix it. We will review our policies, operational procedures and key performance indicators of all staff, starting from the grassroots and working our way to all national teams,” Hussein Mohammed added.
Earlier, the FKF boss had sent words of encouragement to both the senior side and the U17 team ahead of their respective fixtures, urging players to represent the country with pride and focus.
“Best of luck to the Junior Stars as they begin their U-17 AFCON qualifiers against Somalia today. Your hard work and determination have brought you this far; it’s now time to put in the work,” he stated.
The 8–0 loss has stirred painful memories for Kenyan football fans, reigniting debates over long-term planning, player development, and coaching strategies.
While Harambee Stars have enjoyed memorable successes in the past, results like this highlight the urgent need for structural reforms to restore competitiveness and national pride in international competitions.
