Sporting highlights Kenyans can look forward to in 2025
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Reading Time: 4min | Wed. 01.01.25. | 10:20
With so much action across various sports, 2025 promises to be a thrilling year for Kenyan fans. From football to athletics and beyond, the nation is poised for a resurgence on the global sports scene
Sports enthusiasts in Kenya have much to look forward to in 2025.
With the African Nations Championship (CHAN) just a month away, preparations are in full swing as Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania get ready to co-host this prestigious 18-team tournament.
Fans in the country will get a glimpse of what is expected in the CHAN competitions from 3rd January when the national team Harambee Stars take part in the invitational Mapinduzi Cup in Zanzibar, marking the first sporting event for the country this year.
Stars will use the team to gauge themselves for the upcoming CHAN games, with all countries (Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania) gearing up preparations.
In Nairobi, the Moi International Sports Centre (MISC) and Nyayo National Stadium are nearing the end of extensive renovations to meet international standards.
These upgrades mark a pivotal moment for Kenya, hosting a major continental football event after missing out on the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and the 2018 CHAN due to unpreparedness.
The CHAN 2024 draw, held in Cairo, Egypt, included football powerhouses such as Morocco, Senegal, and Nigeria, alongside Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
For Kenyan fans, this tournament offers a chance to see Harambee Stars compete on the continental stage, a welcome relief after the team’s elimination from the 2025 AFCON and struggles in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Looking further ahead, Kenya is already gearing up for the 2027 AFCON, which it will co-host with Tanzania and Uganda. A state-of-the-art stadium, Talanta Sports City in Nairobi, is set for completion this December.
With a seating capacity of 60,000, it will be the first major stadium built in Kenya since the MISC opened in 1987.
Under new leadership, football in Kenya is entering a hopeful era. Hussein Mohamed, the newly elected president of the Football Kenya Federation, has pledged to restore the sport’s reputation and attract sponsors back to Kenya’s most beloved game.
In athletics, Kenya aims for global recognition. After hosting successful events like the 2007 World Cross Country Championships and the 2021 World Under-20 Championships, Athletics Kenya (AK) plans to bid for the 2029 World Athletics Championships.
The nation’s athletes, including Olympic champions Faith Kipyegon, Beatrice Chebet, Nelly Chepchirchir, Beatrice Chepkoech, Faith Cherotich, and Emmanuel Wanyonyi, among others, are expected to shine on the world stage, particularly in the World Championships in Tokyo, Japan.
Besides the World Athletics Championships, Kenyan athletes will hope to bag medals in the World Indoor Champions set for March in Nanjing, China.
Ferdinand Omanyala, Africa’s fastest man, will also aim for a breakthrough at the global level after narrowly missing out on podium finishes in previous championships.
Kenya’s rugby teams are not left behind. Shujaa, the national sevens team, is battling to maintain its place in the World Series under coach Kevin Wambua.
The women’s team, Kenya Lionesses, is targeting a top-four finish, while Kenya Simbas are vying for qualification to the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
Young athletes have their eyes set on the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal. Promising talents in 3x3 basketball, rugby sevens, swimming, weightlifting, and tennis are determined to secure Kenya’s spot on the global stage.
In tennis, Angella Okutoyi continues her inspiring journey. The African Games women’s singles champion aims to qualify for the Grand Slam tournaments and improve her international ranking.
Currently ranked 728 in singles, Okutoyi is focusing on upcoming tournaments in Nairobi to boost her standing before returning to Auburn University on a full scholarship.
Her ultimate goal is to represent Kenya at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
Furthermore, in football, the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will take place in Morocco this year.
Despite Kenya missing out, Kenyan match officials are expected to man the games, with experienced FIFA referees Peter Waweru, Gilbert Cheruiyot, and Stephen Yiembe likely to represent the nation.
Waweru, 41, is the only Kenyan center referee selected for the tournament. A holder of a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Pure Mathematics and a senior lecturer at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Waweru boasts a wealth of experience, having officiated in several FIFA tournaments.
On July 1, 2019, Waweru became the first Kenyan to officiate at AFCON, taking charge of the match between Côte d’Ivoire and Namibia at the 30 June Stadium in Egypt. He also officiated at the 2019 Under-17 World Cup in Brazil, the 2021 AFCON in Cameroon, and the final of the 2021 African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Cameroon, among other major tournaments.
Similarly, Cheruiyot has served as an assistant referee at several top competitions, including the 2016 CHAN in Rwanda, the 2019 AFCON in Egypt, the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, and the 2023 CAF Champions League final in Casablanca.
Yiembe, meanwhile, officiated the AFCON Under-23 final between Morocco and Egypt on July 8,2024 at the Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat. Morocco won the match 2-1.
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