Harambee Stars Stranded in South Africa Ahead of Crucial Lesotho Friendlies

• Harambee Stars are reportedly stranded in South Africa as they prepare to face Lesotho in Pretoria
• The Kenyan national team would face Lesotho twice in South Africa in an international friendly
• Fans share their thoughts on the Kenyan players being stranded in South Africa on social media

Members of Kenya's national football team, Harambee Stars, were reportedly left waiting for several hours after arriving in Pretoria, South Africa, where they are set to play two international friendly matches.

Images initially published by sports journalist Kevin Teya on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, allegedly show the squad's arrival in Pretoria before they were taken to a lodging facility that some players reportedly considered below the standards expected for a national team.

Reports indicate that the players refused to stay at the venue and requested that alternative accommodation be arranged.

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) officials are then said to have found another hotel, where the photographs circulating online were reportedly captured. However, the situation allegedly became more complicated after issues concerning payment for the accommodation emerged between FKF representatives and hotel management.

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Harambee Stars stranded in South Africa

Sources in Pretoria claim federation officials were unable to settle the required hotel costs immediately, resulting in the players remaining in the hotel lobby for more than three hours while the matter was being addressed.

As of the time of writing, neither the Football Kenya Federation nor the Harambee Stars coaching staff had publicly commented on the alleged incident.

The incident is said to have occurred as the Kenyan national team intensifies preparations for a pair of international friendly fixtures against Lesotho in Pretoria.

Harambee Stars are scheduled to take on Lesotho in a two-match series, with the opening encounter slated for June 4 at Lucas Moripe Stadium. The teams will then meet again at the same venue on June 7.

The matches form part of head coach Benny McCarthy’s plans to further assess and strengthen his squad ahead of future competitions, including the qualification campaign for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

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Reactions as Kenyan players were stranded in SA

Aurelia_the_billionaire said:

"Then someone is busy taking billions for Ebola 😢

Shelmie Muliro shared:

"When will it stop? For how long will this continue as we watch?"

001_ngomo commented:

"While the chief Goon William Ruto is flying private jets 🛩️ costing Kenyan taxpayers 537 million shillings in 5days 🤣🤣🤣."

Christopherg266 wrote:

"And the government spent over 100 million on Jamuhuri Day that happened in less than 5 hours."

Sarinamwangi added:

"Harambee stars if Qatar, Turkey calls, pick up that call. Go where your visa is appreciated, go where your value is appreciated. This is unacceptable. They could even have stayed in an Airbnb. Don’t suffer on your knees."

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Source: Briefly News