.jpg)
B. OdhiamboMariga on FKF’s long-term plan to help Kenyan players secure European moves
.jpg)
Reading Time: 3min | Tue. 14.10.25. | 19:53
Having experienced the challenge firsthand during his own playing days, Mariga knows too well how FIFA rankings can shape or shatter a player’s dream
Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Vice President McDonald Mariga has outlined the federation’s long-term strategy aimed at improving Harambee Stars’ performances and, in turn, opening doors for more Kenyan players to grace top leagues abroad.
Follow Our WhatsApp Channel For More News
Speaking to FKF TV ahead of Kenya’s final 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against the Ivory Coast, Mariga said the federation’s vision under President Hussein Mohammed is not only to build a competitive national team but also to raise Kenya’s FIFA ranking high enough to make players eligible for top European leagues, particularly the English Premier League (EPL).
“We want to qualify for every tournament,” Mariga said.
"We came in halfway through this World Cup qualification campaign. Our focus is to win, improve our rankings, and make it easier for players to join teams in countries like the UK.”
Having experienced the challenge firsthand during his own playing days, Mariga knows too well how FIFA rankings can shape or shatter a player’s dream.
The former Inter Milan midfielder was on the verge of joining Manchester City from Parma in January 2010, but the move collapsed because Kenya’s low FIFA ranking denied him a work permit.
At the time, foreign players were required to have featured in at least 70 per cent of their national team matches and hail from a country ranked within FIFA’s top 70. Kenya was at the time ranked 98th.
Despite that setback, Mariga went on to make history with Inter Milan, helping the Italian giants win the Serie A, Coppa Italia, and UEFA Champions League treble, becoming the first Kenyan to lift Europe’s most prestigious club trophy.
The incident, however, left a lasting impression on him.
.jpg)
Now, as an FKF executive, he wants to ensure no other Kenyan player misses out on such life-changing opportunities because of ranking or administrative hurdles.
Mariga’s younger brother, Victor Wanyama, later became the first Kenyan to play in the Premier League when he joined Southampton in 2013 before moving to Tottenham Hotspur.
The work permit issue remains a stumbling block for Kenyan footballers today. In 2023, a potential move for national team captain Michael Olunga to Everton reportedly fell through due to England’s strict Governing Body Endorsement (GBE) points-based system.
Despite his strong performances for Al Duhail in Qatar, Olunga fell short of the 15 points required for eligibility, accumulating only 10.
Under current GBE rules, players from countries ranked inside FIFA’s top 50 automatically qualify for work permits if they meet appearance requirements for their national teams.
Kenya, however, sits outside that bracket, currently ranked 111th.
Mariga believes improving the national team’s consistency, performance, and global standing will ultimately pave the way for more Kenyan talents to break into Europe’s elite leagues.
“We’ve seen what poor rankings can cost us before. Our target is to build a team that wins regularly, climbs the rankings, and helps open doors for our players,” he emphasised.
