This archive report was first published on 16 November 2019.
On November 16, 2019, Harambee Stars arrived back in Kenya after a grueling trip to Egypt, where they had drawn against the Pharaohs in their opening Afcon qualifier match.
The team's return was marked by a somber mood, with players walking past cameras with gloomy faces despite their impressive performance against the odds.
Coach Francis Kimanzi praised the team for staying focused despite the off-the-pitch drama, saying, "I congratulate the team for staying focused despite the circus that was going on in the FKF and the Ministry of Sports."
As reported earlier, the team's time in Egypt was marred by unpleasant moments, including a 15-hour connecting flight to Cairo and a possible eviction from their hotel due to unpaid bills, which was later quelled by the Egyptian government.
Football Kenya Federation boss Nick Mwendwa defended his team, refuting embezzlement claims and stating, "We've never had a problem anywhere for four years. At the end of my term when we have elections there are people who want to make this a big deal. It is not. They said we lied I want to say we did not lie. The records are there and they'll be seen."
