The Kenyan national team, Harambee Stars return to action today, Saturday, 26 September, with a 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Qualifier Group D match against Eritrea at the Nyayo National Stadium from 1600 hrs.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsThe group also consists of African heavyweights South Africa and Guinea who will also lock horns at the same time at the Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa.BETTING GUIDE: Kenya vs Eritrea, match preview, team news and predictionKenya, who will co-host the continental tournament alongside Uganda and Tanzania have already qualified as hosts but will be out to test themselves in the group as they continue to build a competitive team.Harambee Stars head into the match on the back of inadequate preparations occasioned by a go-slow that they underwent in protest over unpaid allowances.Today's action will be the first time that the national team will be in action since 6 June. Moreover, it will be the first match that Harambee Stars will be hosting in Kenyan soil for over a year with the last clash traced back 9 September 2025 against Seychelles.##NAJAVA_MECA_9984752##Harambee Stars are clear favourites going into the match having had a largely stable team as compared to Eritrea and sit 109th in the World FIFA rankings as Eritrea takes the 184th position.Despite the gap on paper, Eritrea has proven to be Kenya's bogey team including thrashing Kenya 4-1 in their last meeting at the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup in 2019, a record coach Benni McCarthy is eager to change.Harambee Stars winger admits little knowledge of opponent ahead of AFCON qualifier“I know we have hardly won against them but that should hopefully change after the match because we have prepared well to secure a win at home,” said McCarthy.The former Bafana Bafana Striker also urged the Kenyan supporters to throng Kasarani and throw their weight behind the national team.McCarthy defends inclusion of free agent in Harambee Stars squad for AFCON qualifiers“We have always felt nothing but love whenever we play at home. I am yet to see a country more inclined to the national team than I saw with Kenya in CHAN. I am calling on them to once again replicate that,” he added.On his part, Ryan Ogam, who is expected to lead Kenya's attack in the absence of captain Michael Olunga expressed his confidence in Kenya's ability to begin the campaign with a win.Why Michael Olunga will miss Harambee Stars' pair of AFCON 2027 Qualifiers“We are all focused on winning and the whole team is ready to give their best. We have put the problems that we had behind us and will give our best in the match,” said Ogam.