Wanyama on how Harambee Stars can achieve success at 2027 AFCON
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Reading Time: 2min | Wed. 04.02.26. | 16:09
Looking beyond immediate results, the former captain was clear on what Kenya must do to turn potential into sustained success
Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder and Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama has expressed confidence that Kenya can rise to the occasion when the country co-hosts the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations alongside Uganda and Tanzania.
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Kenya’s impressive performance at the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) captured the nation's imagination.
Drawn into a tough group, Harambee Stars defied expectations to finish top of Group A with 10 points, recording three wins and a draw against some formidable opposition.
They began with a narrow but crucial 1–0 victory over DR Congo, before holding Angola to a 1–1 draw despite being 10 men. Confidence grew rapidly as Kenya stunned African heavyweights Morocco with a famous 1–0 win, then edged past Zambia by the same scoreline to secure a place in the quarter-finals.
However, the fairytale run ended in heartbreak.
Facing Madagascar in the last eight, Kenya took a 1–0 lead and appeared on course for the semi-finals, only to concede a late equaliser.
The tie was eventually decided on penalties, where Harambee Stars bowed out after a tense shootout.
Despite the disappointment, Wanyama sees the campaign as a major positive and a foundation for what lies ahead.
“We hosted CHAN, and nobody expected the local players to perform the way they did. That showed that with fans behind them at home, anything is possible.
I believe in the boys; they have quality, and with proper training and preparation, they can beat any team on home soil,” he said with confidence.
The 34-year-old, who has long been one of Kenya’s most respected football figures, believes the belief and unity shown during CHAN must be carried into AFCON 2027 preparations.
“With good preparation and the same spirit they showed during CHAN, coupled with the support they received then, we have the potential to be the best,” he added.
Looking beyond immediate results, the former captain was clear on what Kenya must do to turn potential into sustained success.
For him, the future of the national team depends on long-term structural investment rather than short-term fixes.
“We need to invest in infrastructure, give young players opportunities, focus on grassroots football, establish strong and well-structured youth leagues, and support academies. That is how we can develop many quality players,” he explained.
