Nairobi, Kenya — Gabon’s star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored two goals to lead his country to a 2-1 victory over Kenya in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier. The match was played at a fully packed Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi, marking Kenya’s first home international game since 2021.

This win helped Gabon stay on top of Group F with 15 points, ahead of Ivory Coast who have 13. Sadly for Kenya, the loss makes it very difficult for them to qualify for their first-ever World Cup, as they now sit in fourth place with only 6 points.

Match Summary: Aubameyang Shines in Nairobi

Aubameyang, the former Arsenal and Barcelona striker now playing in Saudi Arabia, scored in both halves of the match:

• 16th minute: He scored the opening goal after receiving a cross from Guelor Kanga and beating Kenya goalkeeper Ian Otieno.

• 52nd minute: He scored his second from the penalty spot after Eric Ouma was penalized for handball.

  
  

Kenya’s captain Michael Olunga, who plays in Qatar, had a few good chances before halftime. He hit the post once and missed a header. But he finally scored in the 62nd minute, tapping in a cross from Ouma to make it 2-1.

Despite several chances, Kenya could not find an equalizer.

Kenya’s Struggles Under New Coach

This match was the second game in charge for Kenya’s new head coach, Benni McCarthy, who recently joined from Manchester United where he worked as an assistant. He had started his time well with a 3-3 draw against Gambia, but the loss to Gabon was his first defeat.

Coach McCarthy had hoped to close the gap with Gabon and Ivory Coast, saying before the match:

However, after this loss, Kenya is now nine points behind Gabon with only four matches left.

Group F Standings (After Matchday 6)

Only the top team from each group qualifies automatically. Four of the best second-place teams across all nine groups will go to playoffs for a chance to play in an intercontinental qualifier.

Aubameyang’s Performance in Kenya

Aubameyang showed that even at 35 years old, he still has world-class talent. He scored his third and fourth goals of the World Cup qualifiers in this match.

• He celebrated his goals with trademark acrobatic flips.

• His leadership and experience helped Gabon complete a double win over Kenya. They also beat Kenya 2-1 in the first round.

  
  

Fans Return, But Disappointment Remains

This match was special for Kenyan fans because it was the first international match at home in two years. However, despite the strong crowd support and a bright start, the Harambee Stars could not secure a win.

Midfielder Akumu forced an early save, and Olunga came close multiple times. Kenya even had a goal ruled offside in the first half.

But Aubameyang’s class proved too much, and Kenya's dream of playing in the 2026 World Cup now looks nearly impossible.

Final Thoughts

Kenya showed good fight, but Gabon and Aubameyang stole the show in Nairobi. With only four games left and a big gap in points, Kenya will now focus on preparing for the African Nations Championship, which they will co-host later this year.