HARAMBEE STARS WITHDRAW FROM CECAFA FOUR NATIONS TOURNAMENT

Kenya’s national football team, Harambee Stars, has withdrawn from the CECAFA Four Nations Tournament in Tanzania, the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) announced Monday July 21, 2021.
According to FKF, the technical bench led by head coach Benni McCarthy made the decision after assessing the prevailing conditions in Arusha, where the tournament is being held, and deemed them unsuitable for the team’s participation and preparation.
The tournament, which was set to kick off today, was to feature Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Senegal. However, FKF emphasized that the focus must now shift fully to the upcoming 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), which kicks off on August 2.
“After careful consideration, the technical team has opted to pull the team out of the CECAFA tournament and return to Nairobi to resume CHAN preparations,” FKF said in a statement.
The Harambee Stars had already arrived in Arusha but will return home immediately to regroup ahead of the CHAN competition, which will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
The decision underscores the importance Kenya places on performing well in CHAN, especially as a co-host. This will be the country’s first major continental tournament appearance under coach McCarthy.