Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy must secure victory against Gabon on Sunday after Ivory Coast made Kenya’s task more difficult with a win against Burundi.
Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy will be a man under pressure when his team face Gabon in a 2026 World Cup qualifier at Nyayo Stadium on Sunday.
Kenya take on Gabon at 4pm East African time and face a must win situation if they have to revive their slim hopes of qualifying for the for next year’s tournament set to be hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Pressure has increased on McCarthy after his team could only secure a draw away to The Gambia following their thrilling 3-3, coupled with Gabon’s 3-0 win over Seychelles and Ivory Coast’s 1-0 victory against Burundi.
Harambee Stars will shift focus to their World Cup qualifier against Gabon in Nairobi on Sunday and here is everything you need to know about the must-win clash.
It leaves the Ivorians top of Group F with 13 points, Gabon second on 12 points, while Burundi have seven, Kenya six and the Gambia four.
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That means Kenya are seven points behind the leaders and six adrift of second place and even with five matches still to go, it would be difficult were they to lose to The Panthers or even draw.
With Burundi taking on group minnows Seychelles, they could move four points ahead of Kenya with a win while it would be a 10-point and nine-point lead for Ivory Coast and Gabon respectively over McCarthy’s men were they to secure wins on Matchday 6.
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Can Kenya’s midfield outmuscle Gabon’s creative core to keep their 2026 World Cup qualification hopes alive in Nairobi?
The Harambee Stars coach therefore must find a formula to bring down The Panthers and he will be grateful that Kenyans have snapped up tickets as his team will play in front of a sold-out Nyayo Stadium.
If they get maximum points, that would see them move to nine points from six matches, three behind Gabon, and would be just one adrift of the Burundians, who are likely to beat Seychelles, and in with a chance to get second place, which guarantees a place in the playoffs.
It would also cut the gap between them and Ivory Coast to four, for 24 hours at least, before the African champions host The Gambia on Monday.
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Football Kenya Federation is smiling to the bank after raking in millions thanks to the sold-out Nyayo Stadium for the Kenya vs Gabon World Cup qualifier.
