Olunga not pressured to become Harambee Stars’ all-time top scorer
By Joel Masibo, October 7, 2025Harambee Stars captain Michael Olunga is not under any pressure to become the national team’s all-time top scorer as the Benni McCarthy men leave for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against Burundi and Ivory Coast, respectively.
Speaking moments before the Harambee Stars squad left the country for the final two fixtures in Group F on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, Olunga said he would rather focus on leading the team to greater heights, admitting to temporarily shelving personal ambitions for the general success of the team.
Olunga will lead Harambee Stars in the away fixture against Burundi on Thursday, October 9, 2025, before wearing the national team armband again on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, against African champions Ivory Coast.
The Al Arabi forward is on course to become the new all-time top scorer for the country after notching a brace in Kenya’s win over Seychelles on Tuesday, September 9, 2026, in a World Cup qualifier clash played at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.
Top scorer ambitions
”It is not on my mind; the most important thing for me is to try and work hard and help the team in whichever way that is possible, by scoring, by defending and by trying to lead the team. It is not in my mind, but it will be nice to do it,” Olunga said.
Olunga added that it remains every player’s dream to become the national team’s all-time top scorer, but there is a lot to offer in Harambee Stars colours.
”Of course, it is a good achievement that any player would want to do. I am looking forward to being the all-time top scorer, but still, at the end of the day, there is a lot to be done.” Michael Olunga added.
Meanwhile, Olunga’s brace against Seychelles in September 2025 moved him level with Dennis Oliech on 34 goals in the Harambee Stars’ all-time scoring chart. That placed him just one goal shy of the all-time top scorer, William Ouma, the 1970s football icon who boasts the record of the all-time lead scorer with 35 goals.
Olunga scored his 31st goal and the first of the Benni McCarthy era in the ongoing World Cup campaign in a thrilling 3-3 draw against Gambia on Thursday, March 20, 2025.