McCarthy’s Stars turn to Lesotho after Asian tour falls through

Harambee Stars will now face Lesotho in a two-match international friendly series in South Africa during the June FIFA international window after logistical challenges forced the cancellation of Kenya’s previously scheduled fixtures against Palestine and Kyrgyzstan.

The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) confirmed on Friday that the national team’s planned tour of Central Asia had been shelved, with the technical bench opting for a pair of matches against fellow African side Lesotho as preparations continue for upcoming continental assignments.

Both matches will be played at Lucas Moripe Stadium in Pretoria, South Africa, providing head coach Benni McCarthy and his technical staff with an opportunity to assess the squad ahead of future competitive engagements.

The first encounter is scheduled for Thursday, June 4, while the second match will be played on Sunday, June 7. Both fixtures will kick off at 4:00 p.m. East Africa Time.

In a statement, FKF said the changes were necessitated by logistical difficulties that affected the initially planned friendlies against Palestine and Kyrgyzstan.

“The Harambee Stars’ June international window has undergone changes following logistical challenges that affected the initially planned fixtures,” FKF said.

The federation added that the revised programme would still offer the coaching staff a valuable platform to evaluate players and continue building the team.

The decision is also expected to benefit McCarthy’s long-term plans as Kenya intensifies preparations for upcoming continental competitions, including the PAMOJA AFCON 2027 qualifiers.

Facing African opposition is seen as a more relevant test for the Harambee Stars, who are seeking to build momentum and develop a competitive identity against teams they are more likely to encounter in continental football.

Kenya heads into the friendlies encouraged by recent performances, including a convincing victory over Grenada during the March international window. However, Lesotho are expected to provide a stern challenge, having shown steady improvement in recent outings.

The June camp will also offer several players an opportunity to impress the technical bench as competition for places in the national team intensifies.

With both matches set to be played in Pretoria, Kenyan fans will be keen to see how McCarthy balances experimentation with the need to establish consistency as Harambee Stars continue their journey towards future continental assignments.

Fixtures

• Kenya vs Lesotho – Thursday, June 4, 2026 (4:00 PM EAT)
• Kenya vs Lesotho – Sunday, June 7, 2026 (4:00 PM EAT)
• Venue: Lucas Moripe Stadium, Pretoria, South Africa