Harambee Stars promised 2.5 million for every win in World Cup qualifiers

The men’s national football team, Harambee Stars, have been given even more reason to fight for positive results when they begin their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers with two away matches against Gabon and Seychelles this November.

This is after Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba announced that the team will receive a monetary reward of 2.5 million Kenyan shillings for every win they record in the African qualifiers where they are placed in Group F.

Namwamba made the announcement on Wednesday morning as he saw off the team who departed for West Africa in a chartered plane from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

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“For every three points that you give me, you will get 2.5 million. You win these two qualifiers (Gabon and Seychelles) and I have your 5 million shillings ready as you land back in the country,” a statement from the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy & Sports confirmed.

CS Ababu also rallied the team to put their best foot forward for Kenya, adding that the government through his ministry had done its best to ensure they were better prepared for the qualifiers.

“The Government put in all efforts to guarantee proper preparations for you. We have paid your allowances and chartered this aircraft so that we minimize jetlag for you.

Player allowances and technical bench dues have been sorted and I believe we have given you the best we could and all we ask is that you put your best foot forward for Kenya.

The whole 50 million of us, led by our President H.E. William Ruto, will be behind you cheering you on as you play these crucial games,” rallied CS Ababu.

On his part, captain Michael Olunga promised to deliver good results as he thanked the Government for the support while acknowledging the great spirit within the team.

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“We want to go out there and do well for the country so that we can also inspire the younger generation who are always looking upto us. We also want to make Kenyans proud and the boys are ready. We are yearning to go and we hope to post good results,” he said.

Stars will face off with Gabon in the first of the qualifiers on Thursday, November 16, 2023, at the Stade de la Rénovation de Franceville starting at 7 pm EAT.

The team will then depart to Abidjan, Ivory Coast, on Friday ahead of the second match of the qualifiers against Seychelles. The match is slated for Monday, November 20, 2023, at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny in Abidjan.

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The matches will be the first time in two years that Harambee Stars is taking part in competitive international football matches, following a two-year hiatus as a result of a FIFA suspension.

Kenya has been drawn in Group F of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers alongside Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, Gambia, Burundi, and Seychelles.

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