By PHILLIP ORWA
Players and technical staff from the inaugural FIFA Women’s Series took time off from the ongoing tournament to sample the splendour of the wild at the Nairobi National Park ahead of the tournament’s crunch closing fixtures.
The trip, facilitated by the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB), offered the visiting delegations drawn from Australia, Malawi, alongside Kenya’s Harambee Starlets, a direct encounter with Kenya’s natural heritage, merging the energy of the sporting event with a curated showcase of the country’s tourism offering.
Malawi head coach Lovemore Fazili was among those who welcomed the initiative, describing it as a refreshing break from tournament routine.
“The excursion was a very good experience. Some of our players and group members have never been to a park before, so visiting Nairobi National Park has been very special. We have seen lions and buffaloes, among other animals. Kenya is like Malawi in many ways, and we feel at home here,” Fazili said.
He added that the excursion had lifted the spirits of his squad ahead of their third-place play-off against India on Wednesday.
“It is a must-win game. With the motivation from this trip and the support of the officials travelling with us, we believe we can do better,” he said.
The visit is part of the growing partnership between KTB and the Football Kenya Federation (FKF), an agreement signed last year that covers joint destination marketing, integration of tourism experiences into sporting events, and the active promotion of Kenya as a sports tourism hub.
KTB Chief Executive Officer June Chepkemei said the fam trip was part of a broader strategy that recognises the vital role of sport in bringing together global audiences and opening new markets for Kenya’s tourism sector.
“Hosting the FIFA Women’s Series is a proud moment for Kenya not only in the sporting arena but also in the tourism space. A core part of our strategy is introducing delegations of this calibre to a holistic Kenyan experience that goes beyond the playing ground. Through such familiarisation trips and other activations, we aim to turn visiting athletes into lifelong ambassadors of Magical Kenya,” said Chepkemei.
The FIFA Women’s Series is an invitational tournament that brings together national teams from different continental confederations for friendly matches during the FIFA international window. Kenya is hosting one of four groups from April 11 to 15 at Nyayo National Stadium, alongside Brazil, Côte d’Ivoire and Thailand.
Sports tourism has emerged as one of the fastest-growing segments of the global travel industry, and Kenya is positioning itself as a premier destination on the back of major events including the upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which it will co-host with Uganda and Tanzania.
The FIFA Women’s Series tournament concludes Wednesday with Malawi set to face India in the third-place play-off before Kenya’s Harambee Starlets square off in the tournament finale with Australia’s Matildas, with both fixtures taking place at Nyayo National Stadium.
