Kenya’s preparations for Saturday’s AFCON qualifier face uncertainty over unpaid allowances, unresolved work permits and player withdrawals.
Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy has raised concerns over unpaid allowances, unresolved work permit matters and an increasing number of players withdrawing from international duty ahead of Kenya’s meeting with Eritrea.
The problems have emerged as the national team prepares for Saturday’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, putting player welfare and administrative concerns at the centre of the build-up.
McCarthy’s disclosures also come amid reports that players declined to train while pressing for outstanding allowances to be paid. The players were also reported to be seeking answers from the Sports Ministry about their welfare.
Outstanding allowances draw attention
Unpaid allowances are among the issues McCarthy identified within the national team setup. Reports of players refusing to take part in training have added another concern to preparations for the Eritrea fixture.
The reported refusal to train was linked to demands for payment and clarification over welfare matters. Those reports are separate from McCarthy’s disclosure of the broader difficulties surrounding the squad.
No allowance amounts or payment timelines were specified in the details available. The information also does not establish how many players were involved in the reported training refusal or how long any disruption lasted.
Work permit questions remain unresolved
McCarthy also highlighted work permit issues as part of the difficulties facing the team. The available details do not identify whose permits are affected or explain the stage reached in resolving them.
The permit concerns sit alongside the allowance dispute, rather than replacing it as the main welfare question around the camp. Both were among the problems raised by the coach ahead of Saturday’s match.
While McCarthy identified the administrative difficulties, the information available does not set out a resolution or indicate when the outstanding matters could be addressed.
Player withdrawals add to concerns
The coach further pointed to a growing number of players pulling out of international duty. No names or total number of withdrawals were given in the available account.
It is therefore not established which players will be unavailable against Eritrea. Nor do the details provided establish whether individual withdrawals are connected to the outstanding allowances or work permit concerns.
For Kenya, the immediate focus remains the qualifier, but the build-up is now also defined by questions about payments, welfare and player availability. McCarthy’s disclosures place those issues alongside the team’s football preparations.
With Saturday’s fixture approaching, the outstanding questions concern both the players available for selection and the handling of the administrative and welfare matters raised around the camp.
