Touring Gambians send Kenya to the cleaners in Fifa World Cup qualifiers

Gambia nicknamed “The Scorpions” killed the game in the first-half after taking a commanding 3- 0 lead.

The visitors scored through winger Yankuba Minteh, who plays for Brighton & Hove Albion in the English Premier League, former Atalanta and Bologna forward Musa Barrow and defender Sheriff Sinyan.

Harambee Stars scored their consolation through substitute striker Ryan Ogam in the 82nd minute of the match.

Placed a disappointing fifth with six points from seven matches, Kenya cannot qualify for the 2026 Fifa World Cup which will be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States of America since the team cannot finish among the top two even if it wins all its remaining three matches.

At the end of the qualifiers, all the top teams in the nine groups will directly qualify for the 2026 Fifa World Cup which will be held from June 11 to July 19.

The four best runners-up across the groups will advance to the CAF play-off tournament, with the winner earning a spot in the Fifa intercontinental play-off. The winner of FIFA Intercontinental play-off will qualify to play in the 2026 Fifa World Cup. Kenya have yet to qualify for the Fifa World Cup.

After playing seven matches, Gabon top the standings in Group ‘F’ with 18 points, while reigning Africa Cup of Nations champions Cote d’Ivoire are second with 16 points from six matches.

Burundi are third with 10 points from six matches, followed by Gambia on seven points from seven matches.

Kenya is fifth,  while winless Seychelles are placed bottom of the group with zero points from seven matches.

Goalkeeper Byrne Omondi and defenders Abud Omar, and Sylvester Owino are the only members of Friday’s match squad who were in the 2024 African Nations Championship (Chan) team.

Kenya’s entire midfield and attack was composed of foreign-based players, with captain Michael Olunga leading the frontline. Unlike during Chan tournament, the stadium was not full to capacity.

Gambia’s winger Minteh proved Kenya’s chief tormentor in the first-half,  the Harambee Stars  defence collapsing early in the match.

He found Sinyan with a corner-kick, the defender finding the back of the net with a superb header in the 12th minute.

Minteh doubled his side’s advantage in the 26th minute thanks to a counter attack.

After receiving a pass from the left, the dangerous winger raced on the right before beating goalkeeper Omondi with a cleaver low shot to the far left of the goalpost. Barrow extended the lead with a powerful shot in the 38th minute.

All through the match, Minteh troubled defender Omar on the right wing.

Kenya had started the competition strongly but failed to capitalise on the chances that fell to them early in the match, Olunga’s feeble header in the fourth minute causing no trouble to Gambia’s gaolkeeper Baboucarr Gaye.

Moments later, William Lenkupae’s shot from inside the box missed the target.

Kenya thought they had equalised in the 14th minute through Timothy Ouma’s beautiful goal but it was cancelled for offside. At the half-time, the agitated home fans cheered the Harambee Stars players as they made their way to the dressing room.

Both teams made changes at the restart, with Kenya introducing midfielders Alpha Onyango and Suleiman Manzur for Richard Odada and Timothy Ouma respectively.

On the other hand, Gambia rested Minteh for defender Momodou Lion N’Jie.

Onyango came close to reducing the deficit but his shot was deflected for a fruitless corner-kick.

The home fans cheered when striker Ryan Ogam was introduced in the 65th minute for Emmanuel Osoro.

Ogam shone at the Chan with two goals.

He put a smile on the faces of the home fans with a goal eight minutes from time after being teed up by Owino.

Earlier in the 73rd minute, forward Job Ochieng who features for Real Sociedad in Spain made his Harambee Stars debut after replacing Rooney Onyango. Both teams drew 3-3 in the fixture’s first leg on March 20 at Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.