Harambee Stars To Play World Cup Qualifiers' Home Game In Malawi

• Kenya's bid to qualify for its first FIFA World Cup suffered a setback as it won't host qualifiers for the 2026 event
• Harambee Stars' upcoming qualifier against Burundi will be played in Lilongwe, Malawi, due to the lack of suitable football stadiums in Kenya
• Confederation of African Football (CAF) officials twice failed to clear Kenya's stadiums after inspections in April
• The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) sought alternative venues, leading to the decision to play the match in Malawi

Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Nairobi - Kenya's Harambee Stars' bid to qualify for their first FIFA World Cup has been dealt a blow.

This comes after it became apparent that the national team will not host qualifiers for the 2026 football showpiece, which will be held in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

A report by Citizen Digital revealed that the Engin Fırat-coached team will play their upcoming qualifier against Burundi in Lilongwe, Malawi.

The much-anticipated encounter will be played on Friday, June 7, at the Bingu National Stadium.

Why is Kenya not hosting home matches?

The latest setback to Harambee Stars has been due to the lack of a proper football stadium to host the international ties.

This comes after Confederation of African Football (CAF) officials failed to clear Kenya's stadiums.

The footballing body inspected stadiums twice in April, prompting the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) to scout for alternative venues.

"The inspectors have done inspections twice in the last month and wrote a report that was shared with the government and CAF. We have since requested the Malawian federation to host us, and they have accepted. We will write a formal statement as the match day nears," said an FKF official.

Kenya will host Burundi before facing off against Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) defending champions Ivory Coast.

Michael Olunga praised for humility

In other news, skipper Michael Olunga had a stellar season with Al Duhail SC in Qatar and scored 22 goals, helping them win the league.

The talisman, who runs Michael Olunga Football Academy (MOFA), was given the Mansour Muftah Award for his prowess in front of goal.

He went on vacation to Europe before returning to Kenya and spent time doing chores at his Homa Bay village home.

Olunga shared a photo picking beans while wearing the Al Duhail jersey and cheekily captioned it.

Proofreading by Nyambura Guthua, journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke