Harambee Stars 2025: Inside a year of change, painful lessons and renewed belief

The year 2025 will be remembered as one of the most eventful and emotionally charged periods in the history of the Harambee Stars.

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It was a season that reshaped the national team structurally, reignited public interest, and exposed the realities of Kenya’s standing in African football.

From a new technical bench to a historic CHAN run, breakthrough local talents, and sobering defeats against elite opposition, the year told a complete story of progress and limitation.

Mozzart Sport takes you down memory lane and highlights some of the key moments and the impact the year had on the men’s football team, Harambee Stars.

Benni McCarthy's Appointment and the New Technical Bench

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) made a decisive move in March by appointing former South Africa striker Benni McCarthy as Harambee Stars head coach.

McCarthy arrived with a reputation built in Europe and South Africa, having played for Ajax, Porto, Blackburn Rovers, and West Ham United before moving into coaching at Cape Town City, AmaZulu, and later Manchester United as a first-team attacking coach.

McCarthy did not come alone, but he assembled a backroom staff he trusted and had previously worked with in South Africa and England.

His assistant coach was Vasili Manousakis, a Greek-born tactician who worked closely with McCarthy at AmaZulu. Manousakis was responsible for match preparation, opposition analysis, and tactical structure.

Moeneeb Josephs, the former South Africa and Orlando Pirates goalkeeper, joined as goalkeeping coach.

Josephs previously worked with McCarthy at AmaZulu and was tasked with improving shot-stopping, distribution, and command of the penalty area among Kenyan goalkeepers.

The technical bench also included a fitness and conditioning team focused on modern sports science, workload management, and injury prevention, an area McCarthy identified as critical for competing at the international level.

The expanded technical unit marked a shift toward professionalism and long-term planning rather than short-term results.

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World Cup Qualifiers Group F and Kenya’s Campaign

Kenya was drawn in Group F of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers alongside the Ivory Coast, Gabon, Burundi, Seychelles, and The Gambia.

The group presented a mixture of African heavyweights and beatable opponents, demanding consistency rather than isolated performances.

McCarthy’s first match in charge came away to The Gambia in March; Harambee Stars fell two goals behind before mounting a spirited comeback to draw 3-3.

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Michael Olunga scored from the penalty spot, Mohammed Bajaber added a second, and William Lenkupae marked his senior international debut with a crucial goal.

The result restored belief within the squad and signaled a shift in mentality.

Kenya followed that with a dominant 5-0 victory over Seychelles, where Olunga scored twice, while the other goals came from Ryan Ogam (a brace) and Collins Sichenje.

The win marked Kenya’s most convincing performance of the campaign and underlined the gulf between the Stars and the group’s lowest-ranked side.

However, Kenya struggled for consistency; home defeats to Gabon and away to the Ivory Coast proved costly.

The decisive blow came in Abidjan, where the Ivory Coast ran out 3-0 winners, ending Kenya’s qualification hopes.

Despite organized spells, the Elephants’ experience, pace, and clinical finishing highlighted the gap Kenya still needed to close. Michael Olunga’s Leadership and Influence

Michael Olunga’s Leadership and Influence

Throughout 2025, Olunga remained the Harambee Stars’ reference point.

As captain, he led a transitional squad that blended experienced internationals with emerging local players.

Olunga finished the year as Kenya’s top scorer in competitive matches, delivered leadership in difficult moments, and carried the burden of expectation during both qualifiers and friendlies.

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His brace against Seychelles took his international goal tally beyond 30, strengthening his status as one of Kenya’s most prolific forwards of all time.

Beyond goals, his hold-up play and leadership allowed younger players to grow into international football with less pressure.

CHAN 2025 and a Nation Reconnected with Football

The African Nations Championship staged in August 2025 became the emotional centerpiece of the year.

Playing at home and fielding a squad made entirely of locally based players, the Harambee Stars produced their best-ever CHAN campaign.

Kenya opened the tournament with a disciplined 1-0 victory over DR Congo, a result that set the tone for belief.

Austin Odhiambo scored the winning goal, and the second group match delivered a historic 1-0 win over Morocco,scored by Ogam, despite Kenya playing with ten men for over 30 minutes.

The group stage concluded with a 1-1 draw against Zambia, a match in which Kenya rotated but still finished top of the group.

Kenya progressed to the quarter finals for the first time in CHAN history, where they faced Madagascar.

The match ended in a narrow defeat, bringing an end to a memorable run but earning widespread praise for organization, discipline, and bravery.

Throughout the tournament, stadiums in Nairobi were packed regardless of the opponent or kickoff time.

Fans filled the stands wearing national colors, creating atmospheres not seen in years.

Many Kenyans openly spoke of falling back in love with football, with CHAN rekindling a sense of national pride and ownership of the game.

President William Ruto publicly rewarded the team for their performance, announcing a bonus of one million shillings for each player per win.

The gesture was received with gratitude by the squad and was widely viewed as a major morale boost.

Players acknowledged that the support reinforced their belief and validated their effort on the continental stage.

Ryan Wesley Ogam’s Breakthrough Year

Ryan Ogam emerged as the face of CHAN and one of Kenya’s biggest football stories of 2025.

Before the tournament, Ogam was already enjoying a prolific domestic season with Tusker in the FKF Premier League, and CHAN elevated him into national prominence.

He finished the tournament as Kenya’s top scorer, delivering decisive goals against Zambia and Morocco.

His composure, physical presence, and intelligence in the box drew interest from scouts, and by October, he completed a move to Austrian Bundesliga side Wolfsberger AC.

Rise of Local-Based Talent and Squad Expansion

CHAN 2025 introduced a new generation of locally and internationally based players into the national conversation.

Several earned senior national team recognitions during the year.

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Vincent Harper made his senior international debut during the World Cup qualifiers, becoming one of the standout defensive prospects.

Aldrine Kibet earned his first call-up and featured in friendlies. Job Ochieng joined the senior setup, and Manzur Okwaro was also integrated into the squad, reflecting McCarthy’s commitment to widening the player pool.

Other CHAN regulars remained in contention for senior selection, increasing competition and depth across all positions.

Heavy Defeats and Reality Checks Against Elite Opposition

The harshest lesson of 2025 came in November when the Harambee Stars lost 8-0 to Senegal in an international friendly played in Antalya, Turkey.

Senegal dominated from start to finish, with goals coming from established stars including Sadio Mane and Ismaila Sarr, alongside contributions from midfield runners and substitutes.

The result sparked nationwide debate and led to a drop in Kenya’s FIFA ranking, showing how heavy defeats against top-ranked teams carry long-term consequences beyond the score line.

Kenya also suffered a 1-0 defeat to Equatorial Guinea earlier in the same FIFA international break.

That loss, though narrow, further affected the FIFA ranking and reinforced the challenge of maintaining consistency outside competitive tournaments.

A Year That Changed the National Mood

Despite painful defeats, 2025 altered the relationship between the Harambee Stars and the Kenyan public.

CHAN restored belief, new players gave hope, and stadiums filled again. Conversations around football shifted from apathy to expectation.

The year did not deliver qualification glory, but it laid bare the realities of Kenyan football while offering genuine reasons for optimism.

Harambee Stars ended 2025 as a team transformed in structure, spirit, and public connection, even as the road ahead remained demanding.