- Kenya’s captain Michael Olunga has expressed confidence in Harambee Stars beating Gambia in the upcoming World Cup qualifier.
- The Gambia vs Kenya FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier will be played on Thursday, March 20 in Ivory Coast.
- Gambia was forced to play this game outside the country due to lack of a standard stadium.
The Kenya national team captain Michael Olunga has backed Harambee Stars to shine ahead of their crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier clash against Gambia.
Gambia, which sits fifth in Group F standings with three points, is set to host Kenya at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Ivory Coast.
The long-term Harambee Stars skipper has described Gambia as a team with a bright future ahead of the eagerly anticipated showdown.
However, Olunga believes that Harambee Stars has what it takes to overpower their opponents on Thursday.
“Everybody is really looking forward to the first assignments of the year which are Gambia and Gabon. We know the group is still open with tough games.
First of all, we are going to face Gambia away, and we know they are a team which is now upcoming in Africa and they also have a good squad, so it is going to be a good encounter,” he explained.
Olunga is expected to play a key role in this match since anything less than three points will diminish Kenya’s chances of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Al-Duhail striker, who is likely to lead the attack alongside the likes of the on form Kenya Police FC forward Mohammed Bajaber and Jonah Ayunga, has lauded Benni McCarthy’s move to incorporate young players into the Harambee Stars squad.
Youngsters inclusion
As stated by Olunga, giving players the chance to don the national team colors at an early age is vital for future success.
“Very positive to see young players making it into the final squad. And we have a crop of good players, especially who are playing in the local league that were also named in the provisional squad.
So, it is really good to see that they are being integrated into the senior team at an early stage and level. It is really important for them,” stated Olunga.
Some of the other gifted players who have been included in the 23-member squad include Manzur Okwaro and Ben Stanley Omondi.
Besides Olunga, the other experienced players in the strong squad are Anthony Okumu, Jonah Ayunga and John Avire.
Nonetheless, most of the fans are not entirely happy with McCarthy’s decision to leave the likes of reigning Most Valuable Player Austin Odhiambo and Stade de Reims defender Joseph Okumu out of the squad.
The 30-year-old also urged Kenyans to be patient with the team since the players need to adapt to the changes that McCarthy has introduced.
Gambia on the rise
Gambia heads to the game that is scheduled to be played on Thursday, March 20 at 10 PM East African Time (EAT) with three losses from four group matches.
Those defeats came against the reigning African Cup of Nations (AFCON) champions Ivory Coast, Burundi and Gabon.
However, the team has greatly improved since former Gor Mahia FC head coach Johnathan McKinstry took over.
McKinstry, who won several three with Gor Mahia, guided Gambia to a narrow 1-0 win over Tunisia in their most recent game, with that victory catching the eyes of many people including Olunga.
McCarthy ready for Gambia challenge
On his part, new Harambee Stars head coach Benny McCarthy, who will be taking charge of his first game, has acknowledged that a lot needs to be done to ensure Kenya becomes a football powerhouse.
“I’m thrilled to lead my first two World Cup qualifiers. I’m eager to work with the talented squad I’ve selected for the campaign.
There’s plenty of hard work and dedication ahead, but we are ready to embrace the challenge as a team,” the South African was quoted by the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) website.
McCarthy, who has had a chance to work under some iconic coaches such as Jose Mourinho, is expected to manage Kenya until 2027.
Gambia’s expectations
Meanwhile, McKinstry has praised his counterpart, stating that he is going to transform the way Harambee Stars plays.
“They were a very defensive-minded team, and you could even call them a counter-attacking team. They aimed to score from a corner or free kick.
But now, it’s a new coach and a new era in Kenyan football. Benni McCarthy has recently taken over, and historically, his teams, whether at AmaZulu or Cape Town City, have emphasized pressing and attacking more. He was, of course, an incredible footballer himself,” commented the 39-year-old.
After Thursday’s encounter, Gambia and Kenya will battle it out with Ivory Coast and Gabon respectively in their next FIFA World Cup qualifiers fixtures. The two matches will take place on Sunday, March 23 and Monday, March 24 in that order.
