Nairobi, Kenya – Kenya’s national football team, Harambee Stars, is picking up the pieces from a recent tournament exit and refocusing for the battles ahead in the 2026 World Cup qualification campaign. Captain Michael Olunga has rallied his teammates to give their all in the remaining qualifying matches despite the odds stacked against them. “The players are motivated and in good spirits,” Olunga said this week as the Stars returned to training in Nairobi. “We want to replicate the good performance we showed during CHAN 2024. I believe we can do even better.” Kenya is set to face The Gambia next, followed by Seychelles, and Olunga insists the squad will fight hard, even though their qualification chances are slim in a group dominated by heavyweights.

The renewed preparations come after Harambee Stars reached the quarter-finals of the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) – the country’s best-ever finish in the tournament – but were knocked out by Madagascar. Head coach Benni McCarthy, the South African tactician at the helm, acknowledged that Kenya’s hopes of clinching a World Cup berth are faint with the team currently fourth in their group. Ivory Coast and Gabon occupy the top spots, leaving Kenya trailing by a wide margin. “Qualifying for the World Cup is almost impossible,” McCarthy admitted candidly. “But we want to collect as many points as possible from the four remaining games. These matches are about building for the future and giving the players invaluable experience.”

McCarthy has made some bold squad decisions, leaving out a few fan-favorite players as he looks to integrate new talent. Notably, midfielder Austine Odhiambo – who shone at CHAN as Kenya’s joint top scorer – was omitted, raising eyebrows. McCarthy explained that some omissions were due to injuries and others were tactical, urging those left out to prove themselves at their clubs for another chance. The coach has also called up fresh faces like Job Ochieng, a 22-year-old forward based in Spain, signaling a focus on the next generation. As the Harambee Stars gear up to host Gambia at Nairobi’s Nyayo Stadium, Olunga and his teammates say they’re determined to restore pride and finish the campaign strongly, regardless of the final standings.