Harambee Stars and Starlets Set for Major Boost After Landmark Deal With French Giants

Harambee Stars and Harambee Starlets are set to benefit significantly following a new partnership between the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) and French football heavyweights Olympique de Marseille.

FKF has officially entered into an agreement aimed at strengthening Kenyan football structures, from grassroots development to the senior national teams. The deal was finalized during a visit to France by a high-level FKF delegation led by president Hussein Mohammed. He was accompanied by his deputy McDonald Mariga and National Executive Committee members Abdalla Yusuf, Robert Macharia, and Kerubo Momanyi.

During the visit, the delegation was hosted by nine-time French champions Marseille and also toured the city of Miramas. Miramas previously served as Team Kenya’s pre-Olympics training base ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The trip proved productive, resulting in key agreements focused on player development and national team preparation.

One of the major outcomes of the visit was an arrangement that will see Harambee Starlets hold a training camp in Miramas as they prepare for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON). The tournament is scheduled to take place in Morocco from March 17 to April 3, 2026.

What Was Agreed Between FKF and Marseille?

Kenya has been drawn into a challenging Group A at WAFCON 2026, alongside host nation Morocco, finalists in the last two editions, as well as strong sides Algeria and Senegal. Given the quality of opposition, FKF believes top-level preparation will be essential for the Starlets to compete effectively.

In addition to the training camp arrangement, FKF secured a broader partnership with Marseille that will support Kenyan football academies, enhance coaching education, and improve preparations for both men’s and women’s national teams.

“Olympique de Marseille is undeniably a football powerhouse in Europe,” Hussein Mohammed shared on social media after meeting the Marseille leadership led by club president Pablo Longoria. “We have concluded a monumental meeting to establish a partnership framework around youth academies, coaching programs, women’s football, and national team preparations. This year promises to be very exciting for Kenyan football.”

Hussein Mohammed on the Impact of the New Deal

Under the agreement, Kenyan coaches will gain access to elite-level training and expertise from the French club. Harambee Stars are also expected to benefit from the use of Marseille’s world-class facilities when preparing for future international assignments.

“We urgently need to expose our players, coaches, and football administrators to opportunities in mature and established football markets,” Mohammed said in a separate statement. “Skill and knowledge transfer is critical for our growth. France is among the best footballing nations in the world, and we aspire to reach that level.”

The Kenyan delegation also witnessed top-level European football firsthand, attending Marseille’s UEFA Champions League match against Premier League champions Liverpool, which the French side lost 3-0 on Wednesday.