FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: How Kenya, Benin Embarrassed African Football with Floodlight Fiascos

Both nations had their World Cup qualifiers disrupted by floodlight failures, exposing deeper infrastructure flaws and embarrassing African football.

African football was once again thrown into the global spotlight for all the wrong reasons when not one, but two 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches were marred by floodlight malfunctions on the same night.

On Tuesday, September 9, both Kenya and Benin endured embarrassing episodes that forced games to be halted or delayed, leaving fans frustrated and the continent’s football reputation dented.

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In Nairobi, the Gambia faced Burundi at Nyayo National Stadium in what was supposed to be a smooth continuation of their Group campaign.

The Scorpions, who had earlier humbled Kenya’s Harambee Stars 3-1 at Kasarani, had chosen Nairobi as their temporary home ground due to lacking a CAF-certified stadium back home.

The 10 pm kickoff started brightly, with the Gambians dominating possession and creating chances.

But in the 20th minute, part of the pitch was plunged into darkness after one of the floodlight towers failed. The referee stopped play, forcing everyone into a tense half-hour wait.

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Technicians worked frantically, and after nearly 30 minutes, the lights came back on, allowing the game to resume. For many, however, the damage was already done—another reminder of Kenya’s repeated struggles with stadium reliability.

This was not an isolated problem. Kenyan football has suffered from similar issues before, including a power outage at Kasarani Annex just last month that disrupted Harambee Stars’ training before the CHAN tournament.

Ironically, Nyayo and Kasarani had both been renovated in recent years to meet international standards. Tuesday’s blackout exposed how fragile those improvements remain.

Déjà Vu for Kenyan Football

Older fans were quick to recall a notorious incident at Nyayo Stadium during the 1987 All African Games semifinal.

Back then, Harambee Stars were trailing Malawi 1-0 when the floodlights failed, prompting suspicions and forcing a replay the following day. Kenya eventually advanced to the final after a penalty shootout. While that blackout was once celebrated as a lucky break, Tuesday’s repeat felt more like a national embarrassment.

The incident symbolized a broader issue: Africa’s football struggles with infrastructure upkeep. For a nation passionate about football, repeated failures to keep stadiums in working order highlight negligence and lack of accountability.

The embarrassment was amplified because this was a FIFA World Cup qualifier, a global stage where professionalism is expected.

Benin’s Own Blackout Blunder

As if Kenya’s woes were not enough, the Benin versus Lesotho qualifier scheduled for the same night also suffered from lighting problems.

The kickoff in Cotonou had to be delayed when stadium floodlights malfunctioned, leaving players and fans waiting in uncertainty. Organizers eventually fixed the issue, but the credibility of the hosting nation was already undermined.

The fact that both incidents occurred on the same night painted a grim picture for African football.

Fans were left asking why, in 2025, such basic infrastructure issues still plague the continent’s biggest sporting events. While African players dominate in top European leagues, their home federations continue to grapple with problems as elementary as keeping the lights on.

Until stadium maintenance is prioritized and accountability enforced, the continent risks more embarrassing nights like Tuesday’s.

FIFA and CAF may insist on stricter standards, but without local commitment, Africa’s football story will continue to be defined by avoidable failures rather than memorable performances.