Harambee Stars defender outlines Kenya’s winning formula for AFCON 2027
.jpg)
Reading Time: 2min | Wed. 10.12.25. | 20:44
A product of Green Commandos-and first called up to the national team in 2020- Sichenje insists Kenya must build structures, not just teams
Harambee Stars and FK Vojvodina central defender Collins Sichenje has offered a detailed roadmap on how Kenya can rise to the occasion and excel at the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which the country will co-host with Uganda and Tanzania.
Follow Our WhatsApp Channel For More News
The former AFC Leopards defender, now a key figure in coach Benni McCarthy’s squad, delivered a candid assessment, calling for unity, early preparation, and structural organisation if Kenya is to compete with Africa’s best.
Kenya's performance at the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) raised expectations among fans, with many appearing to suggest that Stars will do well at the 2027 AFCON.
Sichenje believes that success at AFCON begins long before a ball is kicked.
“AFCON is not chaos.It rewards organisation, defensive intelligence, and game management. We need an identity that is recognisable, not improvised. We need automatisms, patterns of play we can rely on under pressure.”
A product of Green Commandos-and first called up to the national team in 2020- Sichenje insists Kenya must build structures, not just teams.
“You cannot go into AFCON relying on one team sheet. Football at that level needs options.Injuries happen, suspensions happen, tactics change. We must build a group,not a line up, " he told The Star.
The defender, who made his senior debut in March 2021 in a 1-0 win over South Sudan, also stressed the need for modern training methods and professional preparation.
“Training must be structured. Analysis must be detailed. Recovery must be professional, we cannot behave like a casual side and expect professional results” he explains.
Sichenje’s comments come just weeks after Harambee Stars’ heavy 8-0 defeat to Senegal, a result that sparked debate about the team’s readiness for elite competition.
The ex AIK of Sweden player further, stresses that unity across all football organs is non-negotiable and warns that the clock is already ticking.
“Players, federation, and coaches must share one vision. If leadership is scattered, the team becomes scattered. Shared clarity makes the work easier.”
“2027 sounds far away. It is not. Every FIFA window matters now. We cannot drift and hope to improvise when the tournament arrives.”
.jpg)
