Nairobi, Kenya — Kenya’s captain Michael Olunga don talk say di journey to qualify for di 2026 FIFA World Cup still dey open, as di Harambee Stars prepare for two crucial matches dis week. Kenya currently dey sit for fourth position inside Group F with five points, five points behind di leaders, Ivory Coast.
Dem go face Gambia for away match on Thursday for Abidjan, before dem welcome Gabon for home on Sunday. Dis home match go be dem first in four years. If dem fit win both matches, dem fit move up to second position if other results favor dem. Olunga don urge hin teammates to give 100 percent effort to secure two straight wins.
“We dey look forward to di next two fixtures which go be very tough but I believe say di group still dey open,” Olunga talk before di team take off for Abidjan. “We dey face Gambia away which go be a tough match. Gambia don become one strong team for Africa and we sabi say e no go easy.”
He continue, “We get home game against Gabon wey go still tough, but we dey motivated because na our first home game in four years and we wan give our home fans beta performance.” Gambia dey coached by Irish coach Jonathan McKinstry, wey don sabi di Kenyan football scene well, having managed Gor Mahia before.
Olunga, wey dey play for Al Duhail for Qatar, believe say di coach’s knowledge of Kenyan players go help dem, but e also say everybody dey pumped for di positive start under di new coach Benni McCarthy, wey just recently take over di position.
Dis South African manager don get less dan two weeks to gather hin squad and only don train for three days with locally based players. “Everybody dey look forward to di first assignment for di year with di new coach and we hope say we go start with positive vibes. We need to be patient as we dey adapt to dis new style but I dey very confident of wetin dis young Kenyan team fit achieve,” Olunga add.
McCarthy, after im appointment, don talk say Kenya still get good chance to qualify for di World Cup and dem go push hard for di remaining matches.
Meanwhile, Gabon head coach Thierry Mouyouma don include three new players for im squad to face Seychelles and Kenya in di upcoming qualifiers. Nzé Samaké, Yoann Nani Nono, and Mobili Van dey among di new faces wey go hope to make impact for di team.
Di inclusion of seasoned midfielder André Poko wey don return after nearly two years away from di national team dey expect to boost Gabon’s midfield. Gabon currently dey second in di group with nine points, just one point behind Ivory Coast. With di attacking prowess of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Denis Bouanga included, Gabon dey eye for maximum points against Seychelles on March 20 and dem go later travel to Nairobi to face Kenya on March 23.
On another note, Kenya’s U17 Women’s team, di Junior Starlets, don progress to di final round of qualification for di 2026 FIFA U17 World Cup after dey beat Uganda 3-0 at di Nyayo National Stadium, making di aggregate score 5-0.
Di match see substitute Brenda Achieng shine with a hat-trick in just six minutes. Di victory come after Patience Asiko don open di scoring in di fifth minute, putting Kenya in good position to secure di win.
Di team dey prepare for di next round of qualification against Cameroon, with captain Halima Imbachi urging her teammates to focus and remain humble after di win, emphasizing say dem need to approach di next matches with serious mindset.
