Kenya — Football

Football is the most popular sport in Kenya, alongside athletics for which the nation is globally renowned. The country has 4 leagues and 73 teams, with the Super League at the top. The Harambee Stars, as the national team is known, have a passionate following, and clubs like Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards generate intense rivalries that define Kenyan domestic football.

Football in Kenya developed during the colonial period and became formally organised with the founding of the Football Kenya Federation in 1960. Gor Mahia's victory in the 1987 CAF Cup Winners' Cup remains the greatest achievement in Kenyan club football history. The national team has qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations on several occasions, with their most recent appearance in 2019.

The Football Kenya Federation is the governing body of football in Kenya, founded in 1960. A member of CAF and FIFA, the FKF oversees the Kenyan Premier League, the FKF Cup, and all national teams. The federation has faced governance challenges but continues to work on developing football at all levels.

The Kenyan football pyramid consists of three main tiers. The Kenyan Premier League features 18 clubs in a home-and-away format. The National Super League serves as the second tier, followed by regional leagues. The FKF Cup is the national knockout competition. Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards are the most successful and best-supported clubs.

Kenyan football is dominated by the Nairobi derby between Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards. Gor Mahia are the most successful club, with the most league titles and the distinction of being the only Kenyan club to win a continental trophy (the 1987 CAF Cup Winners' Cup). AFC Leopards are their fierce rivals, and matches between the two generate extraordinary passion. Tusker FC and Ulinzi Stars are among other competitive clubs.