The Harambee Stars will step up preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers with two international friendly matches lined up during the June FIFA window.
Kenya is scheduled to face Kyrgyzstan national football team on June 3 before taking on Palestine national football team on June 6, in fixtures expected to be played in Central Asia.
The matches come at a critical time for the national team as the technical bench continues to shape the squad ahead of a busy competitive calendar that includes the AFCON 2027 qualifiers.
National Teams Coordinator Athanus Obala said the friendlies will offer a valuable opportunity to assess players and strengthen team chemistry.
“These are nice build-up matches as we continue building up for the upcoming AFCON 2027 qualifiers. The games will give the technical bench a good opportunity to further assess the team and continue strengthening the squad,” Obala said.
Kenya, alongside Tanzania and Uganda, is set to co-host the 2027 AFCON tournament, placing added pressure on the national team to build a competitive squad capable of performing on home soil.
The June friendlies are part of a broader strategy by the Football Kenya Federation to expose players to different styles of play, with Kyrgyzstan and Palestine offering contrasting opposition from Asia.
The fixtures are also expected to give fringe players a chance to stake their claim in the squad, as the technical bench looks to strike a balance between experienced internationals and emerging talent.
With the qualifiers approaching, the focus now shifts to consistency and cohesion, areas that have been key in Kenya’s recent rebuilding efforts following periods of inactivity and restructuring in local football.
The upcoming matches are therefore seen as more than just friendlies, but a crucial step in shaping a team that will carry the country’s hopes into AFCON 2027.
