What about Kenya? Some writers reckon that the home of Kenyan football is Bukhungu Stadium where the first match that could qualify as an international was held in Kenya.
This was around 1934 when a North Nyanza side hammered top English side Remington 3-0 in front of a huge crowd. But the tiny, now under renovation Bukhungu has never hosted a full, Fifa international fixture because of its inferior status.
The home of Kenyan football would be either Moi International Sports Centre (MISC) or Nyayo National Stadium depending on your persuasion.
By my estimation, MISC, Kenyas grandest sports arena, sits comfortably as the home of Harambee Stars.
Who will forget the final of the 1987 All Africa Games football pitting an exciting Harambee Stars against Egypt at a full capacity MISC on August 12 of that year?
It was the first time that a football match in the country had attracted a crowd of 60,000 plus.
Harambee Stars again attracted a capacity crowd on January 12, 1997, when a star-studded Nigerias Super Eagles featuring Augustine JJ Okocha, Nwanko Kanu, Sunday Oliseh et al came calling in a 1998 World Cup qualifier.
Kenya gallantly fought to a 1-1 draw.
I will never forget the day Kenya booked a ticket to the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations after 12 agonizing years out.
The country needed to win against Cape Verde at MISC on July 5, 2023, to guarantee passage to the African finals in Tunisia.
As is wont with the federation, official attendance figures were not given, but I reckon the attendance was well beyond 60,000.
The stadium, with yours truly in attendance, first as a sports journalist at work, and second, as a Kenyan patriot, dreaming of Afcon qualification, raptured into wild celebrations when an in-form Dennis Oliech blasted home the only goal of the match in the 85th minute.
I remember being hit by a water bottle filled with unprintable stuff, launched from high up on the stands, as ecstatic fans went berserk, in a way only the beautiful game can do to someone.
You see, the federation had sold out tickets and there was no space for journalists, forcing the organisers to unceremoniously huddle them on the running track behind the team benches.
Several journalists were hit, burying any notion I may have had that I was being targeted.
Was this job worth it, I thought as I also wildly celebrated the goal while dodging incoming missiles? You can thus understand why Kasarani and this particular game is etched in my memories.
The MISC pitch, when at its best, particularly in the 2000s when Sam Mwai was the CEO of Stadia Kenya, is easily Kenyas best football playing surface.
It is thus unfortunate that at this time when the country is dreaming of qualifying for the World Cup and creating sweet national memories, Harambee Stars cannot play at home.
Civil strifeThe country is not at war or undergoing any civil strife to be denied this inalienable international football right. The reason is simple.
MISC and Nyayo Stadium, banned by Fifa from hosting international matches, will also be closed for renovations when Kenya plays their 2026 World Cup home qualifying matches against Burundi on June 3 and Cote dIvoire seven days later.
Football Kenya Federation have not officially announced where these home fixtures will be played but the grapevine is rife on where the venue will be.
