Harambee Stars’ draw away to The Gambia on Thursday joined a list of matches where Kenya have pulled off great comebacks and here are the most memorable ones.
Harambee Stars’ 3-3 stalemate against The Gambia brought back memories of some memorable matches where Kenya have had to come from behind to snatch a draw or win.
Benni McCarthy saw his team score a last-minute goal to share the spoils in their World Cup qualifier away to The Gambia and the game joins six other matches that have witnessed Kenya come from behind to pull off a positive result.
Harambee Stars’ 7 most memorable comebacks: Where does Benni McCarthy’s thrilling Kenya debut rank?
7. Gambia 3-3 Kenya – March 2025
Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy embraces midfielder William Lenkupae after he scored a late equalizer against Gambia. Photo/FKF Media.
Harambee Stars’ draw with The Gambia in Abidjan on Thursday March 20, 2025 was another testament that they can fight back.
At the Alassane Ouattara Ebimpé Olympic Stadium in Abidjan, a goalless first half gave way to a thrilling second, where six goals were scored, and The Gambia took a 2-0 lead with Musa Barrow and Yankuba Minteh scoring in the 55th and 61st minutes before Michael Olunga pulled one back in the 69th minute via the penalty spot.
Mohammed Bajaber’s stunning strike 15 minutes from time brought Kenya level but Barrow would break their hearts when he walked in his second and The Gambia’s third six minutes from time.
With Kenya looking like they were headed for defeat in coach Benni McCarthy’s first game, another debutant William Lenkupae slotted home from close range from corner for a memorable draw, with virtually the last kick of the game.
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6. Ethiopia 3-3 Kenya – October 1984
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Joe ‘JJ’ Masiga was among the scorers as Kenya pulled off a 3-3 draw with Ethiopia in 1984.
Ethiopia and Kenya have had some epic battles down the years but few beat the 3-3 draw at the Addis Ababa Stadium, on October 28, 1984 in a World Cup qualifier.
Just like witnessed on Thursday, Ethiopia took a 2-0 lead but Harambee Stars fought back to draw 2-2 before the hosts went ahead again, only to be pegged back by Kenya in the dying minutes of the game. Ambrose Ayoyi, Sammy Onyango and Joe ‘JJ’ Masiga were the scorers for Kenya on the day.
5. Mauritius 1-3 Kenya – December 1972
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On December 10, 1972, Harambee Stars pulled off a memorable comeback away to Mauritius in a World Cup qualifier staged at the King George V in Curepipe.
Mauritius took a 37th-minute lead through Daniel Jean Robert Imbert but Kenya rallied back with William ‘Chege’ Ouma equalising five minutes later for 1-1 at halftime.
After the break, it looked like the match was headed for a 1-1 draw but eight minutes from time, John Chore made it 2-1 before Ouma put the gloss on the result with his brace in the 84th minute.
4. Kenya 2-2 Mauritius – December 1972
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William Ouma’s second half brace rescued a 2-2 draw for Kenya against Mauritius in December 1972.
Ten days after that thrilling comeback in Mauritius, Harambee Stars were at it again in Nairobi.
The visitors went ahead 2-0 after Anwar Jackaria and Daniel Jean Robert Imbert scored in the 17th and 42nd minutes but William ‘Chege’ Ouma came to Kenya’s rescue once again with a second half brace scored in the 56th and 65th minutes to share the spoils.
3. Kenya 2-2 Zambia – August 1973
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Peter Ouma was one of the scorers as Kenya came from behind to draw 2-2 with Zambia in August 1973.
In a World Cup qualifier staged in Nairobi on August 19, 1973, Zambia shocked Kenya when they took a 2-0 lead and looked to be coasting to a memorable away victory.
However, William ‘Chege’ Ouma pulled one back in the 65th minute before Peter ‘Pele’ Ouma made it 2-2 five minutes later for a share of the spoils.
2. Kenya 3-2 Tanzania – June 2019
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Michael Olunga cekebrates one of his two goals against Tanzania at AFCON 2019.
The most recent thrilling comeback before Thursday’s match, Kenya had to comeback twice against neighbours Tanzania in their group stage match at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.
At the June 30 Stadium on June 27, 2019, Taifa Stars took a sixth-minute lead through Saimon Msuva but Michael Olunga equalised in the 39th minute.
However, Tanzania quickly regained their lead, Mbwana Samatta scoring one minute later for 2-1 lead at halftime.
Sebastien Migne’s team would rally back after the break when Johanna Omolo equalised for Harambee Stars in the 62nd minute before Olunga sealed the win eight minutes from time to earn the regional bragging rights.
1. Kenya 4-3 Burkina Faso – April 1997
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Mike Okoth scored a hat-trick as Kenya came from behind to beat Burkina Faso in 1997.
In a 1998 World Cup qualifier on April 6, 1997, Kenya had their backs against the wall against Burkina Faso in Nairobi when Reinhard Fabisch’s team went down 2-0 inside 37 minutes.
However, they staged a memorable second half comeback when Mike Okoth scored a hat-trick, beginning his exploits with a brace in the 51st and 68th minutes to draw level, before Francis Were made it 3-2 for Kenya in the 71st minute.
Burkina Faso would draw 3-3 in the 75th minute but Okoth won it for Kenya with an 81st minute strike.
