Harambee Stars captain Michael Olunga and new FKF boss Hussein Mohammed visited the embassy of Qatar on Wednesday in what could be a ground breaking move for Kenyan football.
Kenya’s football ties with Qatar continue to flourish following a high-profile visit by Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President Hussein Mohamed and Harambee Stars captain Michael Olunga to the Qatari Embassy in Nairobi on Wednesday, January 29.
The duo was received by Kenya’s Ambassador to Qatar, H.E. Mohammed Noor Aden, as they explored avenues for deeper football collaboration between the two nations.
This meeting builds on the strong sporting relationship Kenya and Qatar have nurtured in recent years, particularly in player development, infrastructure, and talent exposure.
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Kenya and Qatar have an ongoing footballing relationship, which was highlighted in September 2023 when Harambee Stars played a friendly match against the 2022 FIFA World Cup hosts at the Al Wakrah Sports Complex in Doha.
Kenya emerged victorious with a 2-1 win in that encounter, further cementing their sporting ties.
Earlier in May 2023, Olunga and former Harambee Stars head coach Engin Firat visited the Qatar Football Association General Secretary, Mansoor Al-Ansari.
The discussions during that visit revolved around forming partnerships that would give local Kenyan players more international exposure.
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Firat gave an example of Ayub Masika’s recent move to Azerbaijan side Sabali and Stanley Wilson’s ongoing trial in Sweden as potential door-openers for more Kenyan players to move there.
Wednesday’s meeting at the Qatari Embassy provided even more clarity on these efforts, especially as Kenya prepares to co-host two major continental tournaments: the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN) and the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
A statement from the Embassy of Kenya in Doha emphasized Kenya’s intention to draw valuable lessons from Qatar’s recent success in hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
“Given the remarkable strides made by our nations in the sport, Kenya is keen to foster deeper cooperation in football development, including infrastructure, talent scouting, nurturing, and sports tourism, drawing valuable lessons from Qatar’s successful hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, as Kenya prepares to co-host CHAN 2025 and AFCON 2027,” the statement read.
Olunga’s continued involvement in these discussions highlights his growing role as an ambassador for Kenyan football in Qatar.
The 30-year-old striker, who plays for Qatari top-flight side Al Duhail, has enjoyed immense success in the Gulf nation, recently leading his club to another domestic cup title while maintaining his status as the league’s top scorer.
Recognizing his impact, the Kenyan Embassy noted: “Olunga’s record-breaking success stands as a testament to the strong sporting ties between Kenya and Qatar, inspiring the next generation of footballers.”
During his 2023 visit to Qatar, former Harambee Stars coach Firat had underscored the significance of global partnerships in elevating Kenyan football. He reiterated this sentiment in a previous discussion with the FKF media team.
“Qatar is a country with great potential. They have invested a lot of resources in football. Over 55,000 Kenyans also work and live here. We are exploring partnerships with such countries so as to expose Kenyan football to the global scene,” Firat stated.
He added, “Having talented players is not enough. We also need to create networks to ensure that these talented players are exposed to top-level football from a young age.”
With Kenya set to co-host CHAN 2025 and AFCON 2027, strengthening partnerships with football powerhouses like Qatar could be pivotal in ensuring the country’s preparedness.
