Why Musa Otieno is unhappy with Stars playing on foreign soil

Zimbabwe's Godknows Murwira (left) challenges Austine Odhiambo of Harambee Stars during their 2025 Afcon qualifiers match at Mandela National Stadium in Kampala, Uganda on September 06. [Courtesy, Standard]

Even as Harambee Stars continue with their preparations for the upcoming crucial two-legged Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers fixture against Cameroon, former national team captain Musa Otieno is not a happy man.

Otieno, who retired from international football in 2010, has been saddened by the government’s inability to renovate stadiums in time forcing the team to stage their matches on a foreign soil.

For the third time this year, Harambee Stars will play home, away from home when they clash with their Group J rivals Cameroon at Mandela National Stadium, in Kampala, Uganda on Monday (October 14) barely three days after the first leg encounter at Japoma Stadium, in Douala, Cameroon.

Engin Firat’s boys first staged their 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Burundi and Ivory Coast in Malawi in June before hosting Zimbabwe in Kampala in their continental qualifiers opener last month.

This is as a result of lack of a Fifa-accredited facility in the country due to the prolonged renovations at Kasarani and Nyayo stadium. The two largest stadiums in the country have been earmarked as venues for the 2027 Afcon.

With Kenya tied on four points at the top of the group with the five-time African champions, and having played against the Indomitable Lions in numerous matches, Otieno knows the importance of the twelfth man’s support in this crucial match. A win at home will put Kenya in pole position to qualify for next year’s continental showpiece in Cameroon with two matches to go.

“I totally agree with my former coach Antoine Hey who once said that abnormal is normal in Kenya. I never played with Harambee Stars home, away from home. It is sad to see them continue playing outside the country. We should learn to take responsibility. As Kenyans, we like talking big, but no actions. Sometimes, I lay back, but what I always hear is mind-boggling. We are doing nothing to improve the situation,” Otieno told Standard Sports.

“We know CHAN is coming up, but it’s the government's work to construct stadiums and not federation. Imagine playing at Kasarani, seeing your girlfriend and family there, and playing in Kampala with no fan and where nobody knows you. You know for the concerned authorities, it’s okay, we will understand. But when the team doesn’t perform, the blame shifts to the players.

While Kasarani, which was shut down in December 2023, is far from completion, Nyayo has been opening doors once in a while as renovations continue with countless visits from the government officials. On the other hand, the new 60,000 seater Talanta Sports City Stadium whose construction started in March 2024 is set to be completed in December 2025.

The decisions have had some implications on Harambee Stars' performance as they have failed to secure maximum points in those matches when a win seemed the only possible outcome to the disappointment of their ever-demanding fans.

Harambee Stars sluggishly dropped four points after drawing against Burundi (1-1) and African champions Ivory Coast (0-0) at Bingu National Stadium, Lilongwe in June.

It was a similar situation against the Warriors of Zimbabwe, who looked more comfortable than the hosts and frustrated them to a barren draw in Kampala on September 6. Though Harambee Stars responded in style to secure a historic 2-1 against Namibia on the road, this is a type of a game they could, and should, have won easily if they had played in front of their home fans.

“I want to congratulate the team for how they have played so far. For the nation to qualify, they need to have their own plans, and for them to win on a foreign land, is always going to be a big plus for them. But the challenge is if you don't even win those matches, they complicate everything,” said Otieno.

“But the other day, the boys came back with good results. It’s a matter of asking, how are we supporting this team for us to be happy with the way the Junior Starlets are going to the World Cup. Besides the political angle, how are we supporting this team.”

However, Harambee Stars midfielder Anthony Akumu says they are more than determined to cause problems for Andre Onana and company.

“As always, our confidence and morale is high. The two matches, home and away against Cameroon are very crucial for both teams. It is important for us to remain focused, and I believe if we continue working hard as a team and give our best, we will register positive results," said Akumu.