Photo Credit - Football Kenya Federation.
Kenya national team coach Benni McCarthy has admitted they are braced for a tough game against Gabon in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying fixture at Nyayo Stadium on Sunday.
Harambee Stars will be going for revenge having lost the first round meeting against the Panthers 2-1 away. Gabon arrived safely in Kenya on Friday night and trained at Nyayo Stadium on Saturday ahead of the fixture.
While Gabon won their matchday five fixture 3-0 against Seychelles at Stade de Franceville, Kenya had to come back twice to draw 3-3 against the Scorpions of Gambia at Alassane Ouattara Ebimpé Olympic Stadium in Ivory Coast.
“Tomorrow (Sunday) is going to be very tough, same Gambia was exceptional tough but the team performed very well, stuck to the plan and it wasn’t a lot of time for us to prepare, to put the team together to gel,” the South African legend told Pan-Africa Football.
“However, I thought we did very well, and it was very unfortunate not to win the game but we are happy we didn’t lose and can take a lot of positives from that performance.
“We are playing a team that is top of the group, and we know it won’t be easy, it is good to have the fans back, we know they have not watched their team for a while now, we hope not to disappoint them, we want to pick up from the Gambia.
“I think we finished very strongly and looked like we could have gone on and won the game, but it wasn’t to be, so hopefully we can continue with the same momentum (against Gabon) and fight for every ball, for every second of the 90 minutes.
“The players will go out there to do their best and hopefully they can provide the killer blow and get us started off with three points because that is what the fans will deserve against Gabon on Sunday.”
On whether Kenya still has a chance to qualify, McCarthy replied: “Yes we do, everyone in the group, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Burundi, Gambia, everyone have a chance, we still in with a chance, and there is a likelihood of qualifying as the best second placed team.
“So everything is possible, but we have to start tomorrow’s game with three points and that will send us on our way, and try to catch up with the teams that already have 12 points, like Gabon, it will be hard but not impossible.”
Gabon will go into the fixture sitting second in Group F with 12 points from five matches, one less than table leaders Ivory Coast, while Kenya is lying fourth with six points.
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