PREVIEW: Harambee Stars out to spoil Ivory Coast World Cup qualification party in Abidjan
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Reading Time: 4min | Tue. 14.10.25. | 07:36
Stars will take inspiration from last year’s goalless draw with the Elephants in a match staged in Malawi
Kenya’s underwhelming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification journey comes to a close this evening when Harambee Stars play Ivory Coast at the Alassane Ouattara Ebimpé Olympic Stadium in Abidjan.
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Stars currently sit third in Group F with 12 points and are already out of contention for a place at next year’s tournament, which will be co-hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
Ivory Coast, on the other hand, leads the group with 23 points and only needs a win tonight to confirm their qualification, marking their fourth appearance at the global showpiece.
Kenya’s campaign has been marked by inconsistency, producing three wins, three draws, and a similar number of losses.
Their qualification run began with a 2-1 defeat to Gabon before a 5-0 victory over Seychelles.
They went on to draw 1-1 with Burundi, 0-0 with Ivory Coast, and 3-3 with Gambia.
Later on, Stars lost 2-1 to Gabon and 3-1 to The Gambia. Last month, Kenya hammered Seychelles 5-0 and narrowly beat Burundi 1-0 in their most recent outing.
It has been a mixed journey, one that showed glimpses of progress but lacked the consistency needed to challenge for qualification.
The Elephants, meanwhile, have been dominant throughout the campaign. They remain unbeaten, with seven wins and only two draws—against Kenya and Gabon.
Ivory Coast have beaten The Gambia, Burundi, and Seychelles both home and away and scored an impressive 22 goals without conceding a single one.
Kenya remains the only team in the group yet to lose to the African champions and will be hoping to maintain that record, even though they head into the clash as clear underdogs.
Stars will take inspiration from last year’s goalless draw with the Elephants in Malawi, a match where they created good chances and were unlucky not to win.
Then-coach Engin Firat insisted his side should have taken more from that encounter.
However, facing an Ivory Coast side that has yet to concede a goal in the qualifiers presents a different kind of challenge for Benni McCarthy’s men.
Kenya will be without Norway-based right-back Ronney Onyango, who is suspended after picking up a second booking of the campaign against Gabon.
Goalkeeper Brian Bwire is also a doubt after being forced off early in the Burundi game following a collision with striker Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana, who was later sent off.
Ivory Coast will approach the match with a clean bill of health and no suspensions to worry about.
The game’s outcome could also have major implications for Gabon, who sit second in Group F with 22 points, just one behind Ivory Coast.
They host Burundi tonight and will be hoping Kenya can deny the Elephants a win, a result that could open the door for Gabon to qualify if they beat Burundi.
Gabon coach Thierry Mouyouma has openly expressed his support for Kenya, praising McCarthy’s rebuilding project and the country’s hospitality.
“I believe in Kenya. Since Benni McCarthy’s arrival, he has been doing a good job, building a solid team for the next qualification. We are going to support Kenya. We have played here twice, and it has always been a great time where we have received much love from Kenyans,” he said. “I wanted Kenya to beat Gambia because if they had done that, they could have finished higher, but unfortunately, it did not happen.”
Stars coach McCarthy insists his team will go to Abidjan with the intention of winning and ending their campaign on a positive note. “We know what is at stake. We are going into the lion’s den because for Côte d’Ivoire, a win secures qualification, but we are not here to do favours for anyone. We are going there to win and take three points,” he said. “Football is not played on paper; it is played on the pitch. If we lose, it has to be to a team that truly earns it.”
Harambee Stars squad in Abidjan:
Goalkeepers: Faruk Shikhalo, Byrne Omondi, Brian Bwire
Defenders: Manzur Suleiman, Vincent Harper, Sylvester Owino, Alphonce Omija, Collins Sichenje, Michael Kibwage, Abud Omar, Daniel Sakari
Midfielders: Alpha Onyango, Duke Abuya, Timothy Ouma, Ben Stanley, Marvin Nabwire, Austine Odhiambo
Wingers: William Lenkupae, Job Ochieng, Boniface Muchiri
Strikers: Michael Olunga, Ryan Ogam, Lawrence Okoth
