EXCLUSIVE: Kenyans Rally Behind Harambee Stars to Rise Strong After Gabon Setback

Former Kenyan international Taiwo Atieno has urged Harambee Stars players to hold their heads high despite suffering a 2-1 defeat to Gabon in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match at a packed Nyayo Stadium on Sunday.

With new coach Benni McCarthy at the helm, the Harambee Stars approached the sixth match of Group F aiming for victory after a thrilling comeback draw of 3-3 against Gambia at Alassane Ouattara Ebimpe Olympic Stadium on Thursday, March 20th. Meanwhile, the Scorpions were buoyed from a convincing 3-0 win over the struggling Seychelles at Stade de Franceville.

This marked Kenya’s first home match since their 1-0 friendly loss to South Sudan at Kasarani Stadium on September 12, 2023. Fans flocked to Nyayo Stadium hoping for a win, but it was Gabon’s star player Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who stole the spotlight with two goals.

The former Arsenal captain scored once in each half, including a penalty. Although Kenya managed to narrow the gap after striker Michael Olunga’s goal, the Panthers defended staunchly to claim their fifth victory in the qualifiers, keeping their qualification hopes alive.

Kenya delivered a strong performance

Atieno, who represented Kenya in the qualifiers for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the African Cup of Nations (AFCON), stressed that the Harambee Stars should not feel ashamed of the defeat, as they played against a high-quality opponent significantly favoured in FIFA rankings.

“When I consider the level of talent Kenya produces and the outcomes we’ve achieved (against Gambia and Gabon), especially with the limited investment in our football infrastructure, it’s evident that we have consistently overachieved,” Atieno noted.

He continued: “With increased investment in our football infrastructure, we can nurture an even greater pool of talent and reach new heights. The potential is enormous. Kudos to the players and the new coaching team. Losing is just the start, not the end. The preparation starts now.”

Another former international, Boniface Ambani, shared that even though the defeat thwarted Kenya’s hopes of qualifying for their first-ever World Cup, the performance was commendable.

“Kenyans demonstrated their passion for football. The attendance at Nyayo was phenomenal. It showed how much we have craved international matches. Fans from all walks of life began arriving as early as 10 AM,” Ambani elaborated. The forward has played for various clubs in the Kenyan Premier League, including Tusker FC and Harambee Stars.

“Regrettably, we lost, with former Mikel Arteta player Aubameyang scoring twice, diminishing our World Cup aspirations. Yet it’s not entirely bleak. We now need to shift our focus to building a squad that can compete in CHAN, giving our locally based players an opportunity to showcase their abilities in the upcoming matches. They need this exposure sooner rather than later.”

Kenya, along with Uganda and Tanzania, is set to co-host the 2024 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN). Initially scheduled to take place from February 1 to 28, 2025, it has been postponed to August 2025 in the same three East African nations.

This will mark the first time the tournament is hosted by three countries. Kenya is drawn in Group A alongside Morocco, Angola, DR Congo, and Zambia.

Kenya had chances, but luck eluded them

Former Harambee Stars striker Elijah Onsika believes that had Kenya capitalised on their scoring opportunities against Gabon, they could have easily won the match, indicating that luck was against them.

“Our defence was solid, and the attack was enjoyable to watch, but our main issue was finishing. Remember Olunga’s free header? That should have been a goal, and if it had counted, it would have been 1-1 and game on. Unfortunately, that chance went just wide.

“Let’s not forget Olunga’s powerful strike that hit the post and bounced back into play. Kenya created more chances than Gabon, but finishing was our downfall. I believe we were not favoured by luck; otherwise, we should have won by a significant margin if we had converted our opportunities.”

Onsika additionally praised the performance of overlapping defender Eric ‘Marcelo’ Ouma, who assisted Olunga’s goal and was substituted in the 86th minute for Manzur Okwaro, who made his first start for Harambee Stars.

“That left-back was the standout player for Kenya. He did everything possible to secure us a win; his electrifying runs were problematic for the Gabon defenders. Ending his match with an assist was an outstanding display,” remarked Onsika, who represented Kenya during the late 80s and 90s.

“Had I been coach Benni McCarthy, I wouldn’t have taken him off. The moment he was substituted, we began to struggle transitioning the ball forward. We lacked creativity from the flanks, which allowed Gabon some breathing room. His runs had exhausted those Gabon defenders; I’m sure they were relieved to see him leave the pitch.”

McCarthy remains optimistic about qualification

Post-match, the 47-year-old South African coach, who has signed on to manage Harambee Stars until the 2027 AFCON, expressed confidence that Kenya can still qualify from the group with four matches left in the African qualifiers.

“You know people love to pull out calculators; perhaps when we face Ivory Coast (in the final match), we might find ourselves in a position to qualify if we win the remaining matches. But for now, we must focus on preparing for CHAN and AFCON 2027 here in Kenya. I’m pleased with what I’m seeing and thrilled, and I know the public are eager to see the team succeed.

“However, it’s crucial for people to understand that when forming a new team and incorporating younger players, you can’t completely move away from the regular players all at once. You need to work with them and leverage their experience to support the younger players as they progress. It’s a process, and we will work through it, but the hope for the World Cup remains (laughs).”

The defeat sees Kenya sitting fourth in the group with six points, nine behind leaders Gabon, who hold 15 points, and seven behind second-placed Ivory Coast, who have overall 13 points. Ivory Coast are set to face Gambia in their matchday six fixture at Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny.

What lies ahead for Harambee Stars?

The Harambee Stars will next face Gambia at Nyayo Stadium on September 1, 2025, after drawing 3-3 in their earlier encounter. Following that, they will welcome Seychelles to the same venue on September 8, where they previously claimed a decisive 5-0 victory.

Next, Kenya will travel to Burundi, where they played to a 1-1 draw in the first round, on October 6, before concluding their group fixtures against the African champions away on October 13. In the reverse fixture, Kenya and Ivory Coast managed a 0-0 draw.