AFCON 2027 qualifiers: Kenya host Eritrea in Group D opener

Kenya will begin their AFCON 2027 qualifying campaign when they host Eritrea at the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi on Saturday, September 26.

The Group D encounter is scheduled for 1:00 PM GMT, with the Harambee Stars aiming to make a positive start on home soil.

Although Kenya have already secured their place at the 2027 finals as co-hosts alongside Tanzania and Uganda, the qualifiers provide coach Benni McCarthy with competitive matches to build and assess his squad ahead of the tournament.

McCarthy has named a 24-man squad for the opening fixtures against Eritrea and Guinea, with captain Michael Olunga returning to lead the attack. The Al-Arabi forward is among the experienced players expected to provide leadership, while emerging talents have also been included as the coach continues to shape the team.

Eritrea, meanwhile, will look to frustrate the hosts and leave Nairobi with a positive result as they begin their qualifying campaign. The Red Sea Boys will face a Kenya side motivated to use the occasion as an important competitive test.

The match is the first of Kenya’s two opening fixtures, with the Harambee Stars scheduled to travel to Conakry to face Guinea on October 1.