Harambee Stars suffered a crushing 3-1 defeat to the Gambia’s Scorpions in their World Cup qualifier at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, on Friday, September 5, 2025, afternoon.

The shocker was a sobering one for coach Benni McCarthy’s men, whose aims of reaching the 2026 FIFA World Cup were dashed by a determined Gambian side that sealed the victory with three first-half goals.

While the match began with a glimmer of hope for the home fans, as Kenya pushed forward in the opening minutes, this was soon to be put to rest.

Unrelenting Scorpions

In the 12th minute, a corner kick found defender Sheriff Sinyan unmarked in the box, and he shot a perfect header into the net to give the Scorpions an early 1-0 lead.

Kenyan fans’ worst fears were confirmed when, in the 25th minute, winger Yankuba Minteh, known for his blistering pace, outran the Kenyan defense and slotted home a composed finish past goalkeeper Byrne Omondi, doubling Gambia’s lead.

As the Harambee Stars struggled to gain composure, Musa Barrow delivered the final blow. In the 38th minute, a perfectly timed cross from the right flank was met by Barrow, who expertly guided the ball into the back of the net to make it 3-0.

While the Harambee Stars proved to be more determined to turn things around, their efforts were, for the most part, fruitless.

Ogam’s consolation goal

Their efforts eventually paid off in the 81st minute when Ryan Ogam scored a consolation goal, providing a small flicker of light on an otherwise dark afternoon. The final whistle confirmed the 3-1 scoreline, confirming a heavy defeat for the home side.

The loss is the third one in the ruthless World Cup qualifiers campaign in which Kenya managed to win a single game and drew three times.

The defeat means that both the Harambee Stars and the Gambia are now out of the running for a spot in next year’s World Cup in the USA.

With this result, Kenya remains in fifth place in Group F with seven points, while Gambia moves to fourth with eight points, both trailing far behind group leaders Gabon and the Ivory Coast.