PREVIEW: Harambee Stars out to annihilate Seychelles in dead rubber clash
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Reading Time: 3min | Tue. 09.09.25. | 08:00
Kenya will be desperate to give fans something to cheer about at Kasarani as they look to finish their home games on a positive note
The Kenya men's national football team, Harambee Stars, will be looking to bounce back from last Friday’s disappointing 3-1 defeat to The Gambia when they host Seychelles in their eighth 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier this afternoon at the Kasarani Stadium from 1600 hrs.
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That loss to The Gambia not only dented Kenya’s pride but also ended their hopes of securing a place at next year’s FIFA World Cup. The visitors stunned Stars early, racing to a 3-0 lead inside the opening half-hour before Ryan Ogam pulled one back late into the match.
With both teams now out of contention, the remaining fixtures are purely about restoring pride and finishing strongly.
Kenya head into today’s clash as overwhelming favourites, having thrashed Seychelles 5-0 in the first leg played in November 2023 in Abidjan. The Stars also boast a near-perfect record in this fixture, winning six of their seven previous meetings while only suffering defeat once.
That defeat came in their first-ever meeting back in December 1974 during the Jamhuri Day celebrations, where Kenya suffered a 2-3 loss.
Barring a major upset, Benni McCarthy's boys are expected to complete a double over the Islanders before their final two group matches in October against Burundi and Ivory Coast—both away fixtures.
McCarthy was critical of his side’s defensive lapses against The Gambia, attributing the loss to costly individual errors despite a bright start.
“Overall, when you watch the match back, there were so many things we did incredibly well—we started at a very high tempo and had Gambia on the back foot. But at this level, when you start making individual mistakes, it kills morale,” McCarthy said.
Stars, however, will be forced to reshuffle their backline today. CHAN captain Abud Omar misses out through suspension after accumulating two yellow cards, while defender Alphonce Omija has been excused to finalise a transfer to Tunisian giants Étoile Sportive du Sahel.
Seychelles, meanwhile, remains rooted at the bottom of Group F without a single point, having conceded 34 goals and scored just two.
Speaking on Monday, McCarthy underlined that discipline and professionalism will be non-negotiable in his squad.
“Every player is selected for the national team not just for talent. Talent only gets you through the door. What matters is hard work, discipline, and consistency,” the South African coach emphasised.
He also issued a stern reminder to players about their long-term aspirations.
“If you are not willing to work hard, your talent goes nowhere. You will only end up being a phenomenal player in the Kenya Premier League, but no one will want to touch you elsewhere.
This country can achieve so much more, but only if players embrace professionalism,” said the former Bafana Bafana forward.
With pride on the line and Seychelles proving historically less challenging opposition, Harambee Stars will be desperate to give fans something to cheer about at Kasarani as they look to finish their home games on a positive note.
