Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba on Friday, November 17, apologized to Kenyans after national broadcaster KBC failed to air a football match between Harambee Stars and Gabon.
The CS had on Thursday, November 16, announced that the national broadcaster would air the match in a statement on his X account.
To the disappointment of many, however, the TV station failed to broadcast the match, raising questions on Ababu’s promise.
Irate football fans took to social media to express their rage with the failed broadcast with some labeling the CS as a liar.
In his statement on Friday, however, the Sports CS explained that KBC experienced satellite difficulties and hence failure.
He further admitted that the government owed Kenyans an apology for the disappointment.
“Last night KBC let down Kenyan fans with satellite difficulties that occasioned failure to screen the Harambee Stars game vs Gabon in Franceville,” Ababu stated in his response.
“We owe Kenyans a sincere, unequivocal and unambiguous apology for this disappointment. You sure deserve better.”
The match was Harambee Stars’ first competitive match since the lifting of a ban imposed by the global football governing body, FIFA in 2022.
Harambee Stars taste defeat
In the match played in Franceville, Gabon, Harambee Stars commenced their World Cup qualification journey on a wrong footing with Gabon winning the match 2-1 to bag maximum points.
It is Harambee Stars who scored first in the match after Kenyan International Masud Juma headed home after a link up with Armenia-based midfielder Amos Nondi in the 40th minute.
Also Read: Our Eyes Are on World Cup, Namwamba After Harambee Stars Beating
The lead was, however, short-lived with Gabon’s forward Denis Bouanga scoring in the 60th minute to restore parity in the match with a left-footed shot.
Harambee Stars would hold on to the draw until the 88th minute when Guelor Kanga scored to break the tie late into the match.
Also Read: Harambee Stars Settle for a Draw Against Russia
The result ended the team’s fine form that had seen it register promising results in a series of friendly matches.
After the Thursday match, Harambee Stars now sits bottom of the Group F standings with zero points and goal difference of negative one.
The stars will next face Seychelles in a match scheduled for November 20 before taking a break until June 2024 when the team will play against Burundi.
To qualify, Kenya will have to battle it out with the Ivory Coast national team, the group’s favorites to emerge top of the group for a slot in the 2026 World Cup.
