Kenya’s Harambee Stars face Africa’s top-ranked side, Senegal, in a FIFA international friendly on November 18, 2025, at Mardan Stadium, Antalya, Turkey.
The kickoff is set for 6:00 PM EAT, with live coverage on KBC TV and the official team platforms.
Senegal, ranked 18th globally and first in Africa, enters as overwhelming favourites against Kenya, who sit 109th in the FIFA rankings.
Tough Senegal Test Awaits
The friendly is part of Kenya’s November FIFA window and serves as a crucial evaluation opportunity under coach Benni McCarthy, who is rebuilding the squad ahead of the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations, which Kenya is set to co-host with Uganda and Tanzania.
Historically, the Harambee Stars have struggled against Senegal, and the match in Turkey is more than a warm-up for the team.
Kenya and Senegal have met five times at the senior international level.
Their first encounter was a 0–0 draw in the Africa Cup of Nations on March 3, 1990.
Senegal then won 3–0 in the 1992 AFCON group stage, followed by another 3–0 win in January 2004.
In a friendly on January 15, 2012, Senegal edged Kenya 1–0. The most recent clash came in the 2019 AFCON, with Senegal winning 3–0.
Harambee Stars have never beaten Senegal in a senior international match, but despite the huge difference in squad strength, Senegal aims to use this match to maintain momentum as they prepare for upcoming qualifiers and friendlies.
A competitive performance, even without a win, would boost confidence, improve FIFA ranking points, and provide valuable lessons for McCarthy’s rebuilding process.
Build-up to the Match
Senegal arrives with a star-studded squad despite minor injury setbacks.
Habib Diallo and Lamine Camara are sidelined, while Tottenham midfielder Pape Matar Sarr is unavailable after picking up an ankle injury against Brazil.
Also Read: Prize Money for CAF Confederation Cup as African Giants Clash
Still, the Lions of Teranga boast elite names like Sadio Mane, Kalidou Koulibaly, Edouard Mendy, Idrissa Gueye, and Ismaila Sarr, who ensure quality across all positions.
Senegal’s recent form has been dominant, with big wins over Mauritania (4-0) and South Sudan (5-0) in qualifiers, though they fell 0-2 to Brazil in London on November 15, ending a 26-match unbeaten run.
Coach Pape Thiaw is expected to rotate the younger players in the squad, as seen in the previous friendlies he has managed.
Harambee Stars, on the other hand, will seek to redeem themselves after a 1-0 loss to Equatorial Guinea on November 14, which extended their run of defeats following a 3-0 loss against the reigning Africa Cup of Nations champions, the Ivory Coast.
Head Coach Benni McCarthy is looking to once more bring out the best in what can be described as the best national team football squad Kenya has had for decades.
Also Read: Mohamed Ghonemi: Meet CAF Manager Behind AFCON 2025 Official Match Ball “ITRI”
The former Bafana Bafana striker boasts notable statement victories over established African forces, including three-time CHAN winners Morocco and two-time CHAN winners DR Congo, during the recently concluded August championship.
Notable Harambee Stars Omissions
Kenya’s squad for the Senegal friendly in Antalya features several high-profile absentees:
- Michael Olunga (Captain) – Rested to manage workload despite chasing Kenya’s all-time scoring record.
- Collins Sichenje – Defensive anchor omitted as part of squad rotation strategy.
- Vincent Harper – Withdrawn due to minor injury concerns.
- Timothy Ouma – Left out to avoid fatigue and protect from niggling issues.
- Job Ochieng – Dropped for recovery and conditioning reasons.
- Adam Wilson – Excluded owing to tight domestic commitments.
- Manzour Suleiman – Rested to minimize injury risk ahead of upcoming qualifiers.
Assistant coach Vasili Manousakis confirmed the omissions were part of a deliberate strategy to refresh the squad and give younger players exposure against elite opposition.
Follow our WhatsApp Channel and X Account for real-time news updates.
