Harambee Stars to Face Senegal in an International Friendly in Turkey

Kenya’s national football team, the Harambee Stars, are set to take on Senegal in an international friendly match on November 18, 2025, at the Mardan Sports Complex in Antalya, Turkey. The game, scheduled to kick off at 15:00 GMT, will provide both nations with an important platform to test their squads ahead of major continental and global competitions.

What Does the Senegal vs Kenya Friendly Mean for Both Teams?

In an official announcement shared on Facebook, the Senegal Football Federation confirmed: “Senegal will play a second friendly match this November 2025: it will take place on November 18 at 15:00 GMT against Kenya at the Mardan Sports Complex in Antalya.” The friendly comes after the cancellation of a previously planned pre-CHAN clash between the two nations in July 2025, marking a long-awaited renewal of the fixture.

Senegal last faced Kenya during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), winning 3–0 in the group stage. Historically, the Lions of Teranga have dominated the fixture, claiming victories in the last two meetings. This encounter, therefore, represents a chance for the Harambee Stars to test their progress against one of Africa’s top footballing sides.

For Kenya, the match follows their friendly against Madagascar on November 14, also in Turkey. It will be their second test of the international window as they continue building towards AFCON 2027, which the nation will co-host with Uganda and Tanzania.

Head coach Benni McCarthy, who recently announced his squad for the two friendlies, is expected to use the match to evaluate new talent. Notably, Kenya’s star striker, Michael Olunga, who played at AFCON 2019, has been left out as McCarthy focuses on nurturing emerging players and strengthening squad depth.

On the other side, Senegal will use the match as part of their 2026 FIFA World Cup preparation campaign, having already secured automatic qualification by topping CAF Group B. The Lions of Teranga will also feature in the 2025 AFCON in Morocco, where they have been drawn in Group D.

By Yockshard Enyendi