Harambee Stars Out of World Cup Contention After Gabon's Big Win Over Seychelles

Harambee Stars saw their slim chances of still making it to the 2026 World Cup all but ended by Gabon who thrashed Seychelles on Wednesday.

Harambee Stars’ faint hopes of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup were officially extinguished on Wednesday following Gabon’s 4-0 victory against Seychelles.

While they were realistically knocked out in March, following a 2-1 home loss to Gabon, Kenya still retained a slim chance, if they won all their remaining four matches while results elsewhere went their way.

That would have meant that Gabon, who were in second position with 15 points after matchday six, needed to lose two and draw as many of their remaining four while Burundi, on 10 points, had to get not less than 18 points at the end of the qualifiers.

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With Kenya on six points, they would have needed to win all their remaining four to take them to 18 at the end of the qualifiers and clinch at least second place in Group F, a scenario that looked bleak even with Harambee Stars’ recent resurgence at CHAN 2024 given the matches involve an away game to African champions Ivory Coast.

Why Are Harambee Stars Out of Contention?

However, Gabon all but ended the ‘ifs’ for Benni McCarthy’s men as they thrashed Seychelles 4-0 away with US-based striker Denis Bouanga scoring a hat-track while Yannis M’Bemba completed the rout.

That sends Gabon to 18 points with three games to go and means Kenya cannot catch them, with Ivory Coast, who still have four games to play, favourites to win Group F.

Kenya can only get a maximum of 18 points and given they lost home and away to The Panthers, they would still miss out due to their poor head-to-head record, even if results elsewhere go in their favour and Gabon lose all their remaining matches.

Harambee Stars face The Gambia at Kasarani Stadium on Friday before playing Seychelles on Tuesday but there is still more to play for as good results will boost their FIFA rankings as well as confidence ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Meanwhile, Ivory Coast host Burundi and could edge ahead of the group with victory as they look to seal a direct ticket and leave the rest fighting for second place which will take them to the playoffs.