Why Musa Otieno is unhappy with stars playing on foreign soil

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

Otieno, who retired from international football in 2010, was saddened by the government's inability to renovate stadiums in a timely manner, forcing the team to play its matches on foreign soil.

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

Engin Firat's boys first played their 2026 World Cup qualifiers in Malawi against Burundi and Ivory Coast in June before hosting Zimbabwe in the opening game of continental qualifiers in Kampala last month.

This is because there is no FIFA accredited facility in the country due to the lengthy renovation work at Kasarani and Nyayo Stadium. The country's two largest stadiums are planned as venues for Afcon 2027.

With five-time African champions Kenya sitting four points at the top of the group and having played the Indomitable Lions in numerous games, Otieno knows the importance of supporting the 12th man in this crucial game. A win at home would put Kenya in pole position to qualify for next year's continental clash in Cameroon with two games to spare.

“I completely agree with my former coach Antoine Hey, who once said that abnormality is normal in Kenya. I have never played with Harambee Stars home or away. It's sad to see them continue to play outside the country. We should learn to take responsibility. As Kenyans, we like to talk big but we don't want to commit acts. Sometimes I sit back, but what I always hear is mind-blowing. We are not doing anything to improve the situation,” Otieno told Standard Sports.

“We know CHAN is coming up, but it is the government’s job to build stadiums, not the federation. Imagine playing at Kasarani, seeing your girlfriend and family there and playing in Kampala with no fan and no one knows you. It's okay for the authorities concerned, we will understand. But when the team doesn't perform, the blame is shifted to the players.

While Kasarani, which closed in December 2023, is far from finished, Nyayo is opening its doors every now and then as renovation work continues with countless visits from government officials. On the other hand, the new 60,000-seat Talanta Sports City Stadium, whose construction began in March 2024, is scheduled to be completed in December 2025.

The decisions had some impact on the Harambee Stars' performance as, to the disappointment of their ever-demanding fans, they failed to achieve maximum points in the games where victory seemed to be the only possible outcome.

Harambee Stars dropped a sluggish four points after a draw against Burundi (1-1) and African champions Ivory Coast (0-0) at the Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe in June.

It was a similar story for the Warriors of Zimbabwe, who seemed more comfortable than the hosts, handing them a fruitless draw in Kampala on September 6. Although the Harambee Stars responded in style and secured a historic 2-1 away win against Namibia, this is the kind of game they could and should have easily won had they played in front of their home fans.

“I would like to congratulate the team on their performance so far. For the nation to qualify they have to have their own plans and when they win in a foreign country it is always a big advantage for them. But the challenge is that if you don’t even win these games, it complicates everything,” Otieno said.

“But recently the boys came back with good results. It's about how do we support this team so that we are happy with the way the junior starlets go to the World Cup. How do we support this team, apart from the political aspect?

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

“As always, our confidence and morale are high. The two games, home and away against Cameroon, are crucial for both teams. It is important for us to stay focused and I believe if we continue to work hard as a team and do our best, we will achieve positive results,” said Akumu.