Football Kenya Federation (FKF) president Hussein Mohammed has admitted that Kenya’s youth national teams have fallen short on the international stage, describing the recent run of results as below par and a wake-up call for the sport’s leadership.

Mohammed said the federation could not ignore the shortcomings witnessed across the Under-15, Under-17 and Under-20 teams this year, insisting that FKF must take responsibility and lead reforms that address long-standing structural gaps.

“We have not been satisfied with the recent performance of our youth national teams. That is a reality we must confront,” he said. “Our focus now is on meaningful, long-term action that will strengthen player development, rather than temporary solutions or excuses.”

Kenya’s Under-20 team endured a difficult outing at the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, failing to progress out of the group after suffering defeats to Morocco and Tunisia. Their only point came from a draw against Nigeria. The Under-17 women’s team also missed out on a World Cup return after Cameroon beat them 4–1 over two legs in the final qualification stage.

The struggles were mirrored in regional competitions. The Under-17 boys fell 3–0 to Ethiopia in the Cecafa playoff that offered the last chance to qualify for next year’s AFCON. At the Cecafa Schools Championships in Kampala, both U-15 teams were eliminated after finishing third in their groups.

Mohammed attributed the recurring failures to the absence of proper youth pathways, saying Kenya’s talent potential has never been the problem but the systems meant to nurture it have been weak for years.

To reverse the trend, FKF has signed a development partnership with Acakoro Football Academy. The academy will scout and enroll promising players born after 2011 from five regions, with eyes on guiding Kenya to its first Under-17 World Cup appearance in 2027.

In the long term, the federation hopes the programme will strengthen the foundation of the Harambee Stars and ensure Kenya becomes a more competitive football nation in the years ahead.

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