Photo Credit - Football Kenya Federation.
Kenya national team striker Michael Olunga has attributed the team’s comeback 3-3 draw against stubborn Gambia in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying fixture to teamwork and not individual performances.
The Group F matchday five fixture at Alassane Ouattara Ebimpé Olympic Stadium in Ivory Coast saw the Scorpions race into a 2-0 lead courtesy of goals from Musa Barrow and Yankuba Minteh. However, Kenya responded with Olunga reducing the deficit from the penalty spot before youngster Mohammed Bajaber scored a stunner to make it 2-2.
The game was not done yet as Barrow scored his second but third for Gambia but debutant William Wilson stunned the Scorpions, when he riffled home from inside the box with the last kick of the game for a 3-3 outcome.
“It is about the team spirit, and it is all about teamwork, you know when you start singling out individual players then it doesn’t become much more of a teamwork, but at the end of the day you could see that we scored three goals away from home,” Olunga told Pan-Africa Football.
“This clearly shows you that there was something coming into the attack and we hope that we can continue to find the back of the net regularly, or whenever we play, and especially the upcoming games which is quite important and going forward I hope we can continue with the same team spirit that the team showed against Gambia.”
Ahead of their next home game against Gabon at Nyayo Stadium, on Sunday, Olunga delivered a message to the fans: “I urge the fans to turn out in large numbers to come and support the team, because it is quite important playing first time at home in two years.
“I believe everybody wants to come and see what the national team looks like, you know, after quite a while and watch the new team that is being assembled by coach Benni, saw hopefully our fans can turn out in large numbers and come to support us and we promise to give a good account of ourselves.”
The draw saw Kenya stay fourth in the six team group with six points from five matches. Ivory Coast are still topping on 13 points, Gabon second on 12 points, and Burundi third on seven.
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