Kenya’s Harambee Stars clinched a 1-0 win against Burundi in the second-to-last match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers Group F on Thursday, October 9, 2025.

The decisive moment came from substitute Ryan Ogam, whose clinical strike secured all three points ahead of their final qualifier against the Ivory Coast on October 14.

Ogam delivers

The encounter began with Burundi reduced to ten men following an early red card, giving Kenya a numerical advantage. Despite dominating possession, Harambee Stars struggled to break down a resilient Burundian defence in the first half, which ended goalless.

The breakthrough came after the introduction of Ryan Ogam, who changed the tempo of the match. The Austrian-based forward found the back of the net with precision, scoring his sixth international goal. His performance underscored his rising profile since joining Wolfsberger AC and proved pivotal as Kenya held firm to protect the lead until the final whistle.

The victory, Kenya’s third in the qualifiers, lifts the team to third place in Group F with 12 points after eight games.

Hussein Mohammed hails team

Celebrations poured in online, with FKF president Hussein Mohammed commending the team’s effort. He wrote on X, “Congratulations, Harambee Stars, on your well-deserved victory against Burundi. You delivered a fantastic performance, and your efforts paid off. Let’s wrap up the final round of qualifiers against Ivory Coast on Tuesday with the same enthusiasm.”

Ahead of the Burundi clash, head coach Benni McCarthy had expressed cautious optimism regarding the fitness of key players, including winger Rooney Onyango, captain Michael Olunga, and Gor Mahia midfielder Alpha Onyango. “There are some slight injury problems, but hopefully, before Thursday’s match, we will have assessed and seen the extent,” McCarthy said on October 7 as the team arrived in Bujumbura.

He confirmed that the rest of the 24-man squad, including goalkeeper Faruk Shikhalo and striker Lawrence Okoth, was fit and ready for the fixture.

Kenya now shifts focus to Abidjan, where they will face Group F leaders Ivory Coast on Tuesday in their final World Cup qualifier, aiming to close the campaign on a strong note.