Harambee Stars face an uphill task in their group F as they seek an historic first-time worl cup qualification under coach Benni McCarthy.
The appointment of Benni McCarthy as the head coach of Harambee Stars marks a significant turning point for Kenyan football.
Tasked with rejuvenating the Kenyan national team, McCarthy has set his sights on guiding Kenya to its first-ever FIFA World Cup appearance.
His unveiling on March 2, 2025, brought renewed optimism, with his first major challenge being the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Gambia and Gabon on March 20 and 23.
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CAF president Patrice Motsepe has set high expectations for his fellow South African Benni McCarthy who was recently appointed Harambee Stars coach.
With the qualification process clearly defined, Harambee Stars have two potential routes to achieving their historic goal.
Africa has been allocated nine automatic spots for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with each of the group winners in the CAF qualification process securing direct entry into the tournament.
Kenya has been placed in Group F alongside Ivory Coast, Gabon, Gambia, Burundi, and Seychelles.
The current group standings show Ivory Coast leading with ten points, followed closely by Gabon with nine, Burundi with seven, and Kenya in fourth place with five points from four matches.
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Kenya has been dealt a blow in its ambitious multi-billion Talanta stadium project earmarked for AFCON 2027 with audit revealing millions lost.
While finishing at the top of the group is a challenging task, the upcoming fixtures against Gambia and Gabon provide an opportunity for Kenya to close the gap and strengthen their position.
If they can secure crucial victories and benefit from favorable results in other matches, their chances of finishing first and qualifying automatically will significantly improve.
With the second leg of the qualifiers still to come, Kenya’s fate remains in their hands.
Strong performances in the return matches against their group opponents could push them closer to the top.
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Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy has recalled one forgotten deender who has been out of the team since 2021.
The challenge is immense, particularly with Ivory Coast leading the group, but McCarthy’s tactical approach and the team’s determination could help them turn the tide in their favor.
If Kenya does not manage to top Group F, an alternative qualification path exists through the CAF Playoff Tournament.
The four best second-placed teams from across all groups will enter a knockout playoff round, where they will compete in two single-match semi-finals followed by a final.
The winner of this playoff round will then advance to the FIFA Play-off Tournament, where they will have one final chance to qualify for the World Cup.
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Benni McCarthy names a 32-man Harambee Stars squad for crucial World Cup qualifiers against Gambia and Gabon, blending experience and youth.
The FIFA Play-off Tournament will feature six teams from different confederations, including two from Concacaf, one from Asia, one from Africa, one from South America, and one from Oceania.
The four lowest-ranked teams will face off in semi-finals, while the two highest-ranked teams will advance directly to the final.
The two winners of the final matches will secure the last two spots at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
While this route offers Kenya a second chance at qualification, it presents a difficult challenge, requiring them to first finish as one of the best runners-up and then overcome strong international opponents in the playoff matches.
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Djed Spence’s continued absence from the England national team had seen the Tottenham Hotspur defender linked with a switch of allegiance to Kenya’s Harambee Stars.
Securing a place at the FIFA World Cup would be a historic achievement for Kenyan football.
The men’s senior team has never qualified for the tournament, and making it to the 2026 edition would mark a new era for the sport in the country.
Kenya’s U-17 women’s team made history in 2024 by becoming the first national football team from the country to qualify for a World Cup tournament.
Now, Benni McCarthy has the opportunity to lead the men’s team to a similar milestone.