Kenya’s national football team, the Harambee Stars, defeated Zambia’s Chipolopolo 1–0 at the Moi International Sports Centre in Kasarani on Sunday, securing a place in the African Nations Championship quarter-finals for the first time in 38 years. Midfielder Ryan Ogam scored the decisive goal, completing an unbeaten run in the group stage. President William Ruto and opposition leader Raila Odinga watched the match from the stands, underscoring the political spotlight on the team’s success. Ruto has tied cash and housing incentives to on-field results, raising his bonus pledge to 2.5 million Kenyan shillings (about US$19,000) and a two-bedroom house for each player after the Zambia victory, a move some lawmakers say was not budgeted for and may draw on taxpayer funds. Stadium attendance was limited to roughly 27,000 after the Confederation of African Football cut Kasarani’s capacity to 60 percent following earlier security breaches. The Football Kenya Federation was fined KSh12.5 million over those incidents, while demand for Sunday’s tickets peaked at about 200 sales per minute, according to FKF President Hussein Mohammed. Mohammed credited Ruto’s direct engagement for “60 percent” of the team’s improved performance and urged corporate sponsors to capitalise on the surge in public interest as Kenya eyes qualification for the 2030 FIFA World Cup. Lawmakers, meanwhile, are calling for greater transparency on the funding of player rewards as the Stars prepare for their quarter-final fixture.