Details of FKF's new partnership with Kenyan academy
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Reading Time: 3min | Tue. 09.12.25. | 19:31
Mariga took the opportunity to call on other academies to engage in such partnerships with FKF
Football Kenya Federation (FKF) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Acakoro Football Academy from Kenya with an aim to develop talents and eventually qualify for the 2027 U17 FIFA World Cup.
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The partnership is set to produce Kenya's maiden full residential high-performance system dedicated to youth national team development and is engineered to bridge the gap in youth football by creating a coordinated, long-term pathway for talented young players across the country.
The two-year deal that commenced in December 2025 will see FKF and Acakoro jointly scout the best 2011-born players across five regions, with the top performers earning full scholarships to join a comprehensive residential programme at Acakoro's 25-acre academy in Homa Bay.
According to FKF President Hussein Mohammed, the programme will integrate CBC-aligned education, elite football instruction, sports science, modern analytics, and holistic personal development to create an international standard system.
In this system, successful players will be integrated directly into the Kenya U17 and U20 teams to form the core of the squad that is targeted to compete in the 2027 FIFA U17 World Cup in Qatar.
Speaking during the launch held at a Nairobi hotel, FKF President Hussein Mohammed lauded the partnership, noting the federation's commitment to strengthening youth structures.
"Kenya has world-class talent. What we have lacked is a structured, long-term development pathway. We have openly admitted that the performance of our youth national teams has not met expectations, and addressing this requires more than words,” said Mohammed.
“This partnership with Acakoro creates the country's first residential high-performance system for youth football, built on global best practice and designed to prepare a team capable of competing at the FIFA U17 World Cup in 2027,” he added.
Hussein also took the opportunity to elucidate his administration’s efforts in growing the game, including hosting the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) and partnerships for the FKF Premier League.
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The FKF head honcho also listed restoring governance credibility, rebuilding the relationship with FIFA, reviving youth participation, and enhancing collaboration with government and private partners as part of the success stories in their one year in office.
"Kenyan football is moving forward, not perfectly, and not as fast as we all want, but positively, deliberately, and with purpose. Much more remains to be done, and this partnership forms a key part of the structures we are building to secure long-term success,” he stated.
On his part, Acakoro Director Lukas Mott welcomed the agreement, noting its ability and potential in improving the development of youth football in the country.
"This partnership unlocks Kenya's football potential. By combining education, elite training, and national structures, we are finally giving our young players a real chance to reach the world stage. The dream of seeing Kenya at the U17 World Cup is now a coordinated national effort," said Mott.
FKF and Acakoro have distinct but interdependent roles in the MoU, with the academy tasked with providing daily performance training, sports science support, technical expertise, and a safe residential environment to the players.
The federation, on the other hand, is expected to oversee the national pathway, ensuring a consistent and structured progression from the U15s to the U17s, a role that will largely fall to FKF Vice President McDonald Mariga and Football Development Director Francis Kimanzi.
Mariga took the opportunity to call on other academies to engage in such partnerships with FKF.
“We are calling on all other academies to come and partner with us in order to develop and grow Kenyan football. Our doors are open to all academies in the country.
Together, we can achieve more by not only developing talents in a more structured way but also through linkages to more advanced systems and leagues in the World,” said the 2010 UEFA Champions League winner with Inter Milan.
“The partnership is expected to serve as a blueprint for future youth academies, demonstrating how national structures and elite development programmes can work together to deliver sustainable football growth,” reads part of a statement by FKF.
