Harambee Stars players boycott training over unpaid allowances

Players of Kenya’s national football team, the Harambee Stars, have boycotted training ahead of their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Eritrea. The strike is driven by demands for unpaid allowances and grievances regarding team conditions.

According to Football Kenya Federation (FKF) official Athanus Obango, players are seeking Ksh80,000 each for previous matches played against Senegal and Lesotho. Beyond financial arrears, players have raised concerns regarding substandard hotel accommodations and inconvenient flight arrangements involving lengthy layovers during national team assignments.

Head coach Benni McCarthy expressed concern over the situation, noting that some squad members have gone through multiple camps without receiving promised payments. He questioned whether the lack of settlement would discourage players from future national team commitments.