After missing out on the last two editions (Cameroon 2021 and Cote d’Ivoire 2023), the Harambee Stars were aiming for a comeback in the competition.
However, their hopes were dashed as they failed to progress past Cameroon, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, securing only one win and three draws to accumulate a total of six points in Group J.
Ahead of the upcoming draw ceremony set to take place in Rabat on January 27th, the former Celtic and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder expresses regret over the East African team's absence from three consecutive tournaments.
"It is disappointing not to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after missing the last two editions," Wanyama told Flashscore.
"What makes it more painful is that we have a lot of good talents, yet we did not make it, but you know, we still have room for improvement and come the next one, we will qualify.
"Our focus now shifts to preparing thoroughly for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. However, when the AFCON tournament officially begins, Kenyan fans will truly feel disappointed. We must look ahead and work to avoid repeating the same mistakes."
A versatile and technically skilled midfielder, Wanyama made his international debut against Nigeria in May 2017 at the age of 15, eventually retiring after earning more than 60 caps.
He dismissed claims that Kenya could have secured a spot in Morocco had he not retired early, instead commending the leadership of Michael Olunga.
"It would be unfair for me to say that," he remarked, addressing claims about his early retirement affecting Kenya's chances.
"Making such a statement would undermine the hard work and commitment of the other players in the squad.
"I cannot play for Kenya forever, and retiring early was a conscious decision to give younger talents the chance to step up and represent the country, just as I had the privilege to do.
"Of course, I would have loved to see us qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations - it would have been an incredible achievement - but my departure was about building for the future, not just focusing on the present.
"Speaking of Olunga, he is not only a good person but also an exceptional captain. I genuinely believe he has been doing an excellent job managing and guiding the team effectively."
Kenya has participated in the Africa Cup of Nations six times, making them one of the more seasoned teams from East Africa in the tournament.
Despite this, the country has never progressed beyond the group stages of the continental showcase.
Engit Firat recently resigned from his position as head coach of the team after his position came under scrutiny following Kenya’s performance in the most recent international outing.
Wanyama absolves the Turkish manager of any blame while highlighting the real problem of the Harambee stars.
Firat recently stepped down as head coach of the team after facing criticism following Kenya’s performance in recent international matches.
Nevertheless, Wanyama defended the Turkish coach, absolving him of any blame and instead highlighting the deeper issues affecting the Harambee Stars.
He added: "I think the problem was the management and not Firat but now we have the new federation in, so I think now we're going to see a lot of changes and the team will start performing.
"Things were challenging for him (Firat) because he often expressed concerns about the preparations and the facilities provided for him.
"It’s always tough for any team to play away from home, so he had a difficult task. Unfortunately, he has now resigned, and the search for a new coach is underway.
"The Kenya national team needs a coach who understands African football, someone with experience in the continent's game and not afraid to take on the challenge."
Kenya’s next challenge is to achieve a successful performance at the African Nations Championship, which they are co-hosting with Tanzania and Uganda.
After that, Kenya will continue their quest to qualify for their first-ever FIFA World Cup with an away game against Gambia on March 16th.
Currently, they sit in fourth place in Group F, which includes reigning African champions Ivory Coast, as well as Gabon, Burundi, Gambia, and Seychelles.
