The Kenya national team appears rejuvenated but the Harambee Stars need a victory at home when they host Gabon in Sunday's highly anticipated 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying clash from Group F. Kenya are seven points behind group leaders Ivory Coast and six points back of Sunday's opponents who also want to keep the pressure on the Ivorians.
Group F: Kenya vs Gabon- Nairobi, Kenya (13:00 GMT)
Group F Table (5 matches played)
Points | |
Ivory Coast | 13 |
Gabon | 12 |
Burundi | 7 |
Kenya | 6 |
The Gambia | 4 |
Seychelles | 0 |
The group winner qualifies for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Four of the nine group runners-up qualify for a playoff to determine Africa's representative at the intercontinental qualifying playoff.
The two teams join Eswatini and Mauritius on Sunday as the first African teams to finish their fixtures in the March FIFA window. Hosts Kenya are a team with energy and enthusiasm under new coach Benni McCarthy but face an experienced Gabonese team that is accustomed to hostile environments. The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) announced that all tickets are sold out at the Nyayo National Stadium.
This Kenya team showed promise on the wings and has plenty of pacey options in the attack to set up towering poacher Michael Olunga. However, the spine of the team was caught lacking on numerous occasions against a strong Gambian attack in their 3-3 draw on Thursday.
McCarthy could bring in reinforcements such as energetic Young Africans midfielder Duke Abuya or goal scoring debut hero William Wilson in place of Ismael Athuman. If Kenya can shore up the defense the Harambee Stars have the ability to overrun the Panthers, making a positive start crucial.
The defensive mistakes will have to be minimal against a Gabonese attack that is well known. Saudi-based legend Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will lead the Panthers formation with skilled winger Jim Allevinah and explosive attacker Denis Bouanga in support on the wings, a formidable attack that could severely punish Kenyan errors.
However, the Panthers are a well known quantity with little change over the years when it comes to key players. In the first meeting between the teams back in Group F back in November 2023, Gabon needed to come back from a poor first half to win at home and the Harambee Stars will look to overwhelm a defense that can be vulnerable at times.
Group D: Eswatini vs Mauritius- Mbombela, South Africa (13:00 GMT)
Group D Table (5 matches played)
Points | |
Cape Verde | 10 |
Cameroon | 9 |
Libya | 8 |
Angola | 7 |
Mauritius | 4 |
Eswatini | 1 |
In the other match on Sunday played simultaneously, Eswatini hosts Mauritius in a bottom of the table clash in Group D. After collecting a surprise point at the same venue in their 0-0 draw with Cameroon on Wedneday, Eswatini will feel confident against a fellow team from Southern Africa's COSAFA region.
However, Mauritius defended well and made life difficult for Cape Verde earlier this week. A group that includes plenty of dual national players, the Dodos could very well surprise an Eswatini team that struggles when attempting to play on the front foot.
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