The eagerly awaited international friendly match between Kenya and Senegal is set to take place on Tuesday, November 18, at the prestigious Mardan Stadium in Turkey. Kick-off is scheduled for 6:00 PM East Africa Time (EAT) with fans able to catch the live action on KBC Channel One.
Kenya’s national football team, the Harambee Stars, is looking to regain its footing after a tough 1-0 defeat to Equatorial Guinea in their last outing at the Emir Complex in Antalya. Second assistant coach Antony ‘Modo’ Kimani expressed confidence in the team’s readiness for this significant challenge, emphasizing the importance of performing well against a strong Senegalese side.
This friendly match serves as part of Kenya’s long-term strategy as they aim to gather experience and build cohesion ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which Kenya will co-host alongside Uganda and Tanzania. The coaching staff views matches like these as critical opportunities to evaluate player performance and refine tactics.
On the other hand, Senegal, known as the Lions of Teranga and former African champions, comes into this match fresh off a 2-0 defeat to Brazil, which took place at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium. Senegal is currently preparing for the fast-approaching AFCON 2025 scheduled to be held in Morocco this December. As such, they are keen to use this match to fine-tune their squad, testing strategies and player combinations against international opponents.
Historically, Kenya has faced Senegal on multiple occasions, with a somewhat challenging record. The last five meetings between the two teams have highlighted Senegal’s dominance:
- Senegal 0-0 Kenya** (AFCON – March 3, 1990)
- Senegal 3-0 Kenya** (AFCON – January 16, 1992)
- Kenya 0-3 Senegal** (AFCON – January 30, 2004)
- Kenya 0-1 Senegal** (Friendly – January 15, 2012)
- Kenya 0-3 Senegal** (AFCON – July 1, 2019)
As the match approaches, fans from both nations eagerly anticipate what promises to be an engaging encounter, with both teams looking to gain momentum in their preparations for future competitive fixtures. The performance here could set the tone for both squads as they chart their respective paths in the upcoming football calendar.