2026 World Cup qualifiers: Harambee Stars bounce back to thrash Seychelles 5-0

Harambee Stars bounced back from their 3-1 loss against The Gambia on Friday with a 5-0 win over Seychelles on Tuesday in a 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifier at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.

Four-headed goals and a converted penalty did it for Kenya as Harambee Stars secured their second win of the qualifiers. Their other win was also a 5-0 drubbing of the Indian Ocean islanders in November 2023.

Youngster Ryan Ogam scored a brace of headers. Captain Michael Olunga also scored a double through a converted penalty and a headed goal. Defender Collins Sichenje also showed the might of the Harambee Stars’ air force, also scoring with a header.

The win took Kenya to fourth in Group 'F’ with nine points from eight matches. Seychelles remain at the bottom of the group with no points from eight matches. The other four teams in the group – Burundi, Cote d’Ivoire, Gabon, and The Gambia – are scheduled to play on Tuesday night. Group leaders Cote d’Ivoire were away to second-placed Gabon as The Gambia hosted Burundi at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi. Both matches kicked off at 10 pm.

Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy praised his team’s performance, saying: “We were professional and did not underestimate our opponents. Everyone stood up tall, and we now have something to build on.”

His Seychellois counterpart, Ralph Jean-Louis also praised Kenya for a good performance, saying: “We knew it was going to be a tough match and Kenya played well. We have a young squad that we are preparing for the upcoming Indian Ocean games.”

Five changes

McCarthy made five changes to the team that started in the 3-1 loss to The Gambia at Kasarani. Goalkeeper Byrne Omondi gave way to Brian Bwire as teenager Manzur Okwaro started in his natural position at left back, replacing the suspended Abud Omar. Alpha Chris Onyango took the place of Richard Odada in midfield, while the duo of Job Ochieng’ and Ryan Ogam replaced Emmanuel Osoro and Timothy Ouma, respectively. Ronny Onyango, Collins Sichenje, Sylvester Owino, William Lenkupae, Duke Abuya, and Michael Olunga kept their places.

Kenya was meeting Seychelles for the seventh time after five victories and one draw against the Indian Ocean islanders.

Yet, the first minute betrayed that dominance as Seychelles attacked straight from kick-off. Their captain, Dean Mothé was released with a neat pass on the right wing, and his cross-cum-shot forced a desperate parry from Bwire.

That effort motivated the visitors as they unleashed a series of quick flicked passes, demonstrating every intention to cause an upset.

However, their resistance lasted only six minutes, and the Ryan Ogam show started. The Wolfsberger-bound striker was fouled by Justin Riaz on the left wing, and when they met again in the box, Ogam dominated Riaz in the physical duel to head Duke Abuya’s free kick past the helpless Romeo Robertson Padayachy.

It was Ogam’s fourth goal in his last five matches for Harambee Stars. When play resumed, it was   Abuya trying to score his third goal for the national team. However, his long-range effort in the 12th minute went over the bar.

Undeterred, Seychelles bombed forward for an equaliser as Brandon Labrosse almost taught Abuya a lesson in long-range shooting. Fortunately, Bwire was alert to push his dangerous effort out for a corner.

Seychelles struggled to match Harambee Stars after that, but made the afternoon busy for the Nigerian referee Joseph Ogabor. They started going hard on tackles, forcing Ogabor to caution Imra Raheriniaina, Vince Fred, and Dean Mothé.

Mothé’s foul on Job Ochieng was easily punished as Abuya gave another master class in delivery in the 34th minute. His free kick to the far post found the head of Collins Sichenje, who looped the ball over Padayachy to send the crowd into a new chorus of Olés.

Still, Abuya wanted more, and when Olunga released him on the left wing in the 37th minute, the midfielder cut into his right foot and fired a shot towards goal. The ball betrayed him and hit the post, ricocheting back into play to put Ogam in the history books yet again as Kenya’s number 15 scored Harambee Stars’ 15th goal of the 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers.

The 21-year-old headed in the rebound with the nonchalance of a seasoned veteran, but an effort to complete his hat-trick in the 45th minute did not yield much as he curved his effort wide. He wanted to have more say in the match and in the final minute of added time in the first half, winning Harambee Stars a penalty after Don Fanchette fouled him. It was the turn of Kenya’s number 14, captain Michael Olunga, to add more spice to the goal fest.

His penalty found the back of the net. When the teams resumed for the second half, he had his arms in the air yet again in jubilation in the 67th minute after heading in a cross from right back Ronney Onyango, continuing Harambee Stars’ exhibition of aerial prowess with Kenya’s fourth headed goal of the match.

Onyango celebrated the assist like he had won the lottery, expressing his joy by double high-fiving his teammates and hugging Olunga for doing justice to his delivery. It was the last goal that the Harambee Stars celebrated. They did Mexican waves and cheered loudly when Boniface Muchiri came on as a substitute.