Harambee Stars held by Gambia in World Cup qualifier thriller

Debutants Mohammed Bajaber and Wilson Lenkupae were each on target, as was Michael Olunga as Kenya settled for a 3-3 draw against Gambia in a 2026 World Cup qualifier on Thursday, at the Alassane Ouattara Ebimpé Olympic Stadium in Ivory Coast.

Musa Barrow struck twice as Yankuba Minten scored one to ensure the Jonathan McKinstry coached Gambia earned a point in the thriller, in which the West Africans threw away a two-goal lead to allow the draw.

Harambee Stars, in their first match under South African coach Benni McCarthy, were dull in the first half but showed more zeal in the second stanza, twice coming from behind to force the draw.

The result leaves Kenya with six points after five matches, six less than leaders Gabon and four less than second-placed Ivory Coast – the latter still boasting of a match in hand against Burundi who have seven points in third spot of Group F.

Gambia have five points from five matches, while Seychelles who have lost all matches languish at sixth with a goal difference of -23.

In the ninth, Ronney Onyango sent a sumptuous cross across the goal from the right, finding an unmarked Olunga whose header flew wide, the most promising early attack.

Three minutes later, Olunga was fouled by Abubakar Barry just outside the box, handing Kenya a free-kick, but Eric Johanna could not send the ball past the Gambian wall.

Moments later, Ali Sowe and Barry had a well coordinated move and penetrated the Harambee Stars backline into the box, but the former was unable to keep the ball in the field of play for the last cross.

In the 27th, Alieu Fadera was fouled by Harambee Stars keeper Ian Otieno inside the box as he tried to connect a rebound resulting from Sowe’s attempt, and the referee pointed straight to the spot.

Otieno however redeemed himself, stopping Musa Barrow’s penalty kick much to the chagrin of the Gambians.

Omar Colley wasted a glorious chance two minutes to the break, choosing to cross back instead of shooting from within the six-yard box, looking for Lars Joseph and Sowe, only to allow Daniel Anyembe to clear.

The scare was followed by three successive corners by the Gambians who showed more determination just before the breather, but would not give them advantage either.   

At the restart, McCarthy introduced Lenkupae for Ismail Gonzalez, the Australian-born midfielder who features for Central Coast Mariners making his debut for Harambee Stars.

There appeared to be more purposeful runs by the Stars into the Gambian goal, Eric ‘Marcelo’ Ouma and Johanna increasing their distribution into the box.

However, it was Gambia who would smile first in the 54th, when Barrow swiftly dodged his marker Brian Mandela, making a quick complete turn before burying the ball into the net with a powerful shot from outside the box.

At the full-hour mark, Minten meticulously danced past his marker Anyembe to score the second, the Gambians appearing to find it easy when slicing through Kenya’s defence.

McCarthy reacted immediately, withdrawing John Avire and Johanna while throwing Jonah Ayunga and Bajaber into the fray – the latter making his debut for Stars too.

In the 67th, Momodou Lion fouled Ayunga from behind within Gambia’s box, and Kenya won a penalty which Olunga converted calmly, sending keeper Ebrima Jarju the wrong way to reduce the deficit.

Ayunga was particularly calm in his moves in the final third of the opponents since his introduction, exhibiting admirable awareness on the ball.

Seeking more effectiveness upfront, McCarthy introduced Duke Abuya in the place of Odada two minutes later, as Gambia appeared to retreat, choosing to employ counter attacks.  

Bajaber restored parity for Kenya in the 75th, pulling the trigger from outside the box into the right corner, the ball sliding below the crossbar past a diving Jarju.

With only 10 minutes to the final whistle, Bajaber did all the work to find Abuya in the box, but was stopped just as he pulled the trigger in what was another lost open chance.

Gambia responded three minutes later capitalising on a failed offside trap, leaving Ouma begging for a whistle as Barrow punished Kenya’s sluggishness in the defense to score the third.

McCarthy threw his last dice by resting Olunga for Masoud Juma, a sense of urgency all over his face as he sought for at least a share of spoils.

There was intense action at both ends within the six minutes that were added after the regular 90, Juma coming close in the 94th, but was denied.

Just at the death, Lekumpae fired a hard shot off a long throw-in by Ouma past Jarju, the ball finding its way through a forest of legs to seal a thriller of 3-3.

Kenya will take on Gabon on Sunday at the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi, with McCarthy hoping to inspire the team to its first win in his tenure.

Gabon hammered Seychelles 3-0 in another Group F match of the World Cup qualifiers played Thursday night, Dennis Bouanga netting a brace while Jim Allevinah scored one.