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Harambee Stars striker on why playing against Aubameyang remains his best career moment
Reading Time: 3min | Sun. 14.12.25. | 19:08
The clash marked Kenya’s first home match in nearly two years and Ayunga’s maiden appearance on Kenyan soil in national colours
Harambee Stars and St Mirren striker Jonah Ayunga has described Kenya’s FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier against Gabon at Nyayo National Stadium as the biggest and “craziest” match of his career.
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Ayunga came on as a second-half substitute in the qualifier, played in March, where Kenya narrowly lost after a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang brace handed Gabon a 2-1 victory.
Despite the defeat, the occasion left a lasting impression on the forward.
The clash marked Kenya’s first home match in nearly two years and Ayunga’s maiden appearance on Kenyan soil in national colours.
Thousands of fans poured into Nyayo Stadium, creating an atmosphere the striker says he had never experienced before.
Speaking ahead of St Mirren’s League Cup final clash against Celtic at Hampden Park, Ayunga reflected on the moment that stands out above all others in his career so far.
“The biggest game of my career so far was my first game in Kenya when we played Gabon. That was the craziest game of my life,” Ayunga told the Daily Record.
“It was the first game we played back in Kenya for years. The atmosphere… I have never seen anything like it. I don’t think anyone knows how many people got in. There were no gates or anything. That was mad.”
Ayunga believes Sunday’s final at Hampden, which is expected to draw around 50,000 fans including more than 13,500 St Mirren supporters, could rival the intensity of that unforgettable night in Nairobi.
“But I am sure Sunday’s going to be right up there as well,” he added.
The cup final represents another milestone in a career that nearly took a devastating turn.
After arriving in the Scottish Premiership three years ago, Ayunga suffered a serious ACL injury that sidelined him for ten months and left him fearing his professional future.
“I was not sure if I was going to get the chance to play again at this level, let alone be in a cup final,” he admitted.
St Mirren’s decision to hand him a new contract proved pivotal, and Ayunga is now determined to repay that faith by helping the Buddies lift major silverware for just the fifth time in the club’s history.
The significance of the occasion is not lost on the Kenya international. Images of St Mirren’s 2013 League Cup triumph and their 1987 Scottish Cup victory line the walls at the club, constant reminders of what is at stake.
“This is the chance to put your name down in history,” Ayunga said. “You can be in and out of clubs, but if you win something for a club like St Mirren, it’s remembered forever.”
The former Morecambe and Bristol Rovers forward has never lifted a major trophy in senior football, joking that his only medals come from childhood tournaments.
“Yes, from under-8s,” he laughed. “I have got a massive box of trophies that probably cost about £2 each, but nothing serious. They are at home in a wardrobe, I have not looked at them for years."
“So this one, if it happens, will definitely be front and centre. A League Cup winners’ medal would mean everything.”
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While Celtic enter the final as favourites, Ayunga insists St Mirren’s belief is unwavering as he eyes another defining moment to add to a career already marked by resilience.
