Harambee Stars Fall to 113th in FIFA Rankings After Tough Break
Kenya Drops Four Places After Costly Defeats
Harambee Stars have fallen to position 113 in the latest FIFA World Rankings, marking their steepest slide in months. The drop follows a difficult international break in Turkey, where Kenya lost both of their matches.
On November 14, Stars created several chances but lost 1-0 to Equatorial Guinea. Four days later, Senegal handed Kenya a painful 8-0 defeat, one of the heaviest losses in the team’s history. The back-to-back setbacks meant Kenya earned no ranking points during the FIFA window.
Regional Rivals Also Struggle
The rankings also affected Kenya’s neighbours. Tanzania slipped to position 109, just above Kenya, after a poor run in their recent fixtures. Uganda, the region’s top-ranked side in September, suffered a major fall and now sits outside the top 100.
Senegal, despite their win over Kenya, also dropped one spot to 19th after losing 2-0 to Brazil earlier in the month. FIFA rankings consider the strength of opponents and the importance of each match. Kenya’s heavy defeat to a top-tier team like Senegal had a significant impact.
Pressure Mounts on McCarthy
Head coach Benni McCarthy now faces growing scrutiny. Since taking charge, he has delivered mixed results, winning two and losing four of his last six matches. Earlier losses to Gambia and Ivory Coast had already ended Kenya’s faint hopes of World Cup qualification.
Fans say the team has shown potential under McCarthy but remains behind stronger football nations in key areas such as consistency and tactical discipline.
FKF Promises Action
After the loss to Senegal, FKF President Hussein Mohammed issued an apology, calling the defeat “unacceptable.” He pledged internal reviews and promised changes in team operations and policy.
As Kenya prepares for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which it will co-host, the focus now shifts to rebuilding confidence and restoring competitive form.
