'We Realised the Levels' – William Lenkupae Reflects on Lessons from Facing Amad Diallo's Ivory Coast

Harambee Stars midfielder William Lenkupae has broken his silence following the 0-3 loss to the Ivory Coast in their final World Cup qualifier match.

The match, played at the Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara in Abidjan on Tuesday, October 14, saw the Ivory Coast secure an automatic spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Franck Kessié put the Ivory Coast in the lead in the 7th minute before Yan Diomande doubled the lead in the 54th minute. Manchester United forward Amad Diallo rounded up the campaign with an 84th-minute goal to secure the Ivory Coast a dominant win.

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Ivory Coast topped the standings in Group F with 26 points ahead of Gabon, who had 25. The Gambia were third with 13 points, Kenya fourth with 12 points, as Burundi and Seychelles finished fifth and sixth with 10 and zero points.

William Lenkupae reflected on the 3-0 defeat to the Ivory Coast, admitting that the match was a powerful reminder of the difference in footballing levels between the two sides.

He described the experience of sharing the pitch with elite attackers such as Amad Diallo and Nicolas Pepe as both humbling and motivating, noting how their quality and decision-making underscored what it takes to compete at the highest level.

William Lenkupae said that although the loss was disappointing, he valued the opportunity to test himself against such opposition.

He added that he was eager to return to his club, continue working hard, and use the lessons from the match to grow as a player.

According to him, while the qualifiers had come to an end, his focus is now on improving enough to earn a spot in future national team call-ups and ultimately compete on the same stage as players of that calibre.

“I think we just realised the levels of football…for me, I had a great time, but obviously I want to win games like that,” William Lenkupae said in the post-match press conference.

“I just want to get back to my club, the one I’m currently at and work even harder because at the end of the day, these qualifiers are over, but we are fighting for a spot for the next camp, for the next games, and for AFCON, whatever it is.

“I just want to take what I can learn from this, go back to my club, learn, push myself, and hopefully get to play on this level these guys are playing.”

Despite Kenya’s defeat, William Lenkupae’s words capture a sense of maturity and hunger for growth, showing that the experience in Abidjan was more than just a loss.

As Harambee Stars regroup and look toward future campaigns, William Lenkupae’s resolve embodies the spirit of a team intent on learning, and eventually standing toe-to-toe with Africa’s best.