Mastering a skill takes patience and gradual progress...one small advance at a time.
After a disappointing elimination from the race for the 2026 World Cup, Kenya's national football team, the Harambee Stars, will play their final qualifier against Seychelles at Kasarani on Tuesday.
The introduction of Alpha Onyango, Manzur Okwaro, and Ryan Ogam brought stability to Kenya's midfield and attack, but it wasn't enough to secure a spot in the USA-Mexico-Canada showpiece. Kenya was officially eliminated from the race last Friday after a 3-1 loss to Gambia.
Despite the elimination, the Harambee Stars aim to finish the qualifiers with dignity. Coach Benni McCarthy, who will lead the team against Seychelles, has been encouraged to give more minutes to the Chan squad, which showed great potential during the tournament. Ondari, a team member, called for McCarthy to trust more home-based players.
Seychelles remains rooted at the bottom of Group F without a single point, having lost all their matches. Kenya, on the other hand, has won all of their last five meetings against Seychelles, including a 5-0 win in the first leg of these qualifiers in November 2023. It's worth noting that Seychelles won once against Kenya, in 1974 during the Independence Tournament in Nairobi.
Africa will send nine teams to the 2026 World Cup, with the nine group winners qualifying automatically. As it stands, Ivory Coast leads the group with 19 points, followed closely by Gabon on 18 points. Gambia occupies fourth place in Group F with 7 points, while Burundi is third with 10 points.
The continental playoff will determine the final two slots at the World Cup. The four best runner-up across all groups will enter a continental playoff. The winner of this playoff will join the Fifa Play-off Tournament, where six nations from different continents will fight for the remaining World Cup spots.
As the Harambee Stars prepare to face Seychelles, they will be looking to end the qualifiers on a high note and continue their impressive record against the island nation. The match promises to be an exciting one, with both teams eager to make a statement before the qualifiers come to a close.
