The exit by the national football team, Harambee Stars at the quarter-final stage of the African Nations Championship (Chan) on Friday should mark the renaissance of football in the country.

 Harambee Stars might have lost to Madagascar in a 4-3 penalty shoot-out after a 1-1 stalemate in regulation time, the team performed beyond many people’s expectations given that they were competing in the event for the first time.

The performance brought back the memories of the 1987 African Games where the late Reinhard Fabisch guided Harambee Stars to the football final before losing to Egypt 1-0 in extra time.

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) must cash in on the gains made from the ongoing Chan to improve the game at different levels in the country and most importantly build a strong team for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nation that Kenya will once again co-host with Tanzania and Uganda just like Chan.

Within the few months South African Benni McCarthy has been Harambee Stars head coach, he has managed to bring out the best in the players not only through good selection but creating a good vibe and bond between the players and the technical bench.

McCarthy must now be given the leeway and full support to help build a strong team for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) but more so in his team’s preparations for several assignments ahead including the ongoing 2026 World Cup qualifier Africa Group F.

Harambee Stars met Gambia in their return leg match on September 5 this year after they drew 3-3 in the first leg in March. Kenya is placed sixth in the group with six points from one win, three draws and two loses.

It’s good that McCarthy has indicated that 15 players from his Chan squad will make his main team for the World Cup qualifier, supplemented by foreign-based players. Selection to the national team should be performance orientated and McCarthy must be given a free hand.

 It’s quite clear that there is enormous football talent locally, which should be harnessed, hence FKF should work hard to make the local leagues vibrant and lucrative.