The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has swiftly rejected rumors that the Kenyan government has dismissed Harambee Stars head coach Engin Firat after the team failed to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
Despite being placed in what many considered a manageable group, Kenya's journey to their seventh continental appearance ended in disappointment, with the team finishing third in Group J of the AFCON qualifiers. Cameroon and Zimbabwe secured the top spots, progressing to the tournament after finishing first and second, respectively.
Kenya's campaign was marked by inconsistency. They earned just one win, three draws, and two defeats, collecting six points—eight fewer than group leaders Cameroon. Their tournament began with a goalless draw against Zimbabwe, followed by a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Namibia. However, their hopes took a major hit after back-to-back defeats against Cameroon, including a heavy 4-1 loss in Yaoundé and a narrow 1-0 defeat in Nairobi.
Despite salvaging a draw in their return match against Zimbabwe (1-1) and another goalless stalemate against Namibia, Kenya's performance fell short of expectations, sparking public outcry. Calls for Firat's removal gained momentum, with former Harambee Stars striker Elijah Onsika leading the chorus of criticism. Speaking to Flashscore, Onsika was blunt in his assessment: “We’ve seen enough of this coach. I don’t know what else FKF expects to see from him. It’s time to move on. He has failed, and the longer this continues, the tougher it will get for the fans who are desperate for success.”
In the wake of the disappointing campaign, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Sports, Kipchumba Murkomen, publicly addressed the issue, suggesting that Firat would indeed part ways with the national team due to the failed qualification. “The Cabinet Secretary for Sports is in charge of the games and appointing coaches,” Murkomen explained. “When we didn’t qualify for AFCON, the calls for Firat’s sacking were loud. But people don’t realize that FKF, not the government, has the exclusive rights to hire and fire coaches.”
Murkomen also clarified that the Kenyan government had a financial agreement with Firat, which included a clause that would see his contract terminated if the team failed to qualify for the tournament. “While it’s FKF that hires coaches, we, as the Ministry, have been funding his contract. Given the failure to qualify, it’s clear that we will not release any further funds beyond the agreed period. We are following the terms of the contract,” Murkomen added.
As the situation unfolds, attention now turns to whether FKF will take any immediate action regarding Firat’s future with the team. The public outcry is reflective of a broader desire for change, as Kenyan football fans continue to voice their frustration over a series of underwhelming performances from the national team in recent years.
