McCarthy Remains Hopeful Despite Kenya’s World Cup Qualification Setback

NAIROBI – Kenya’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification hopes suffered a significant blow after a 2-1 defeat to Gabon at Nyayo Stadium, with former Arsenal star Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scoring twice for the visitors.

Crushing Defeat at Home

The Harambee Stars, playing their first home match since September 2023, saw their passionate home crowd silenced by Aubameyang’s brace. Despite captain Michael Olunga’s late consolation goal, Kenya now faces an uphill battle to qualify from Group F.

“We have to continue winning our matches,” said coach Benni McCarthy. “Mathematically, there might still be some glimmer of hope that we can qualify.” The South African tactician, recently appointed until the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, remains defiant about Kenya’s chances.

Group F Standings

The defeat leaves Kenya fourth in the group with just six points from six matches:

• Gabon: 15 points
• Ivory Coast: 13 points
• Gambia: 7 points
• Kenya: 6 points
• Seychelles: 0 points

Rebuilding Process

McCarthy emphasized the transitional nature of his squad: “People need to understand that when it’s a new team with young players, you can’t just do away with regular players immediately. It’s a process.”

The coach pointed to Kenya’s upcoming matches as opportunities to rebuild momentum, starting with September’s home fixtures against Gambia and Seychelles.

Road Ahead for Harambee Stars

Kenya’s remaining World Cup qualifying matches:

1. September 1, 2025: vs Gambia (H)
2. September 8, 2025: vs Seychelles (H)
3. October 6, 2025: vs Burundi (A)
4. October 13, 2025: vs Ivory Coast (A)

With four matches remaining, Kenya would need near-perfect results combined with favorable outcomes elsewhere to keep their World Cup dreams alive.