SEPT 20 – Kenya’s return to the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in 2026 ended without a point, coinciding with the country’s preparation to co-host the men’s AFCON in 2027.

The situation does not seem optimistic: a heavy defeat on the continental stage, and a race to deliver stadiums, training sites, and transport upgrades for one of Africa’s biggest events.

Kenya has a dual test: perform better as a footballing nation, albeit in the separate men’s game, while proving the country can organise at the highest level. The test comes soon after the 2025 men’s AFCON was followed with intense scrutiny; the Senegalese Football Federation claimed that CAF’s stripping of their title was a “robbery”. 

WAFCON 2026 was a reality check

The Harambee Starlets’ 4-0 loss to Morocco in the WAFCON was more than a bad night. It was awful press for Kenyan football and a harsh lesson. Coach Beldine Odemba pointed to tactical and preparation lessons and the need for more international friendlies; players and analysts highlighted facilities, welfare, and the difference between better-resourced sides.

Kenya then lost to Algeria and Senegal, leaving the tournament winless and failing to score a single goal.

AFCON 2027: co-hosting with altered qualification 

Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania are automatic qualifiers for AFCON 2027 as co-hosts, but they still play in the qualifiers. In groups that include a host, only the highest-ranked non-host team advances, so Kenya’s matches matter for other teams even though their place in the finals is secure.

On paper, hosting lifts the pressure of “must-qualify” football, but it might raise expectations in Kenya: a home-region tournament, fresh facilities, and a chance to show progress since the team’s last appearance.

When bookmakers and analysts set betting odds for AFCON 2027, Kenya will likely be among the mid-tier outsiders. They’ll have home advantage but will almost certainly be behind the usual contenders, including Morocco, Egypt, Senegal and Nigeria. Hosting (or co-hosting in this case) often helps teams, but it’s unlikely to fully make up for the gap that recent tournaments and qualification campaigns have demonstrated.

Infrastructure: two stadiums, one deadline

Kenya’s match venues are the Moi International Sports Centre (Kasarani) and the new Talanta Sports City stadium. CAF expected significant progress (around 80% completion at key sites) by August 2026, which sports principal secretary Elijah Mwangi said was on track, to allow time for testing before the January 2027 deadline for full readiness. (Fellow co-host Uganda has stated that the country’s principal stadiums are on course for December 2026 completion.)

Kenya still looks set to host, but only if the works on spectator segregation, hospitality areas, venue operations centres, and training sites are finished on time.

Women’s football

The men’s tournament may have knock-on benefits for the wider game. FIFA’s decision in late 2025 to lift its funding ban on the Football Kenya Federation reopened access to FIFA Forward resources for infrastructure, grassroots work, and women’s football initiatives, but the Kenyan women’s team performances showed that money had yet to translate into high-level performances.

Publications like Citizen argued that the Starlets were “let down long before the first kick” at WAFCON, citing underinvestment in the women’s league, limited competitive fixtures, and uneven welfare.

If AFCON 2027 leaves a more positive legacy, it may be due to tangible advancements for the women’s game: better pitches and coaching, regular international windows, and proper links from county football to the national team.