Harambee Stars fought back from two goals down to secure a 3-3 draw against Gambia in a thrilling 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier at the Alassane Ouattara Ebimpé Olympic Stadium in Ivory Coast.

Debutants Mohammed Bajaber and Wilson Lenkupae both found the net, while Michael Olunga added another to help Kenya salvage a crucial point.

For Gambia, Musa Barrow scored twice, and Yankuba Minten added a third. However, despite their early dominance, the West Africans could not hold onto their lead as Kenya fought back with determination.

Sluggish First Half, Strong Second Half for Kenya

This match marked Kenya’s first outing under new South African head coach Benni McCarthy. The Harambee Stars started sluggishly in the first half, struggling to find rhythm. However, they came back stronger in the second half, displaying resilience and attacking intent.

Twice, Kenya came from behind to level the score, showing significant improvement under McCarthy’s guidance.

Group F Standings: Kenya Still in the Hunt

With this result, Kenya now has six points from five matches, sitting fourth in Group F. Gabon leads the standings with 12 points, followed by Ivory Coast, who has 10 points and a game in hand against Burundi. Burundi is third with seven points.

Meanwhile, Gambia now has five points from five matches, while Seychelles remains bottom with zero points and a goal difference of -23.

What’s Next for Kenya?

Harambee Stars will now shift their focus to their next World Cup qualifier against Gabon on Sunday.

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