Gabon manager Thierry Mouyouma has sent a passionate plea to Harambee Stars after beating The Gambia at Kasarani Stadium on Friday evening. Gabon will need a huge favour from Kenya to qualify for 2026 World Cup. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang beautifully rolled back the years to score four goals in the entertaining 4-3 win. The Gambia were the better side for most of the game but fell to a clinical Aubameyang, who scored with his every shot on target. The win took the Panthers to 22 points to leave them in contention for a spot in next year’s World Cup. They are second, one point behind reigning African champions Ivory Coast, with only one game to play, with only the top team guaranteed automatic qualification. Gabon will need a huge favour from Kenya’s Harambee Stars, who Ivory Coast play in Abidjan in their last group game on Tuesday.
Gabon’s head coach message to Harambee Stars Mouyouma’s side need Ivory Coast to drop points against Kenya and for them to beat Burundi at home in their last game to clinch the top spot. The coach heaped praise on Benni McCarthy, who was appointed in March this year. He also mentioned disgraced goalkeeper Patrick Matasi, who has been suspended from the sport due to match-fixing allegations. “I believe in Kenya. Since Benni McCarthy arrived, he has been trying to bring some change. He is doing a great job. Kenya had a problem with a goalkeeper when the qualification began,” said Mouyouma in his post-match remarks.
Gabon head coach Thierry Mouyouma. Photo by Issouf Sanogo. Source: Getty Images The former defender during his playing days also admitted that he wanted Kenya to be in the mix for a playoff spot to make the tie tasty. Kenya’s clash in the Ivory Coast will be a dead rubber, as Harambee Stars can’t qualify for the World Cup regardless of the final day’s results. “We hope they will do their best. I wanted Kenya to beat Gambia (last month) because they would still be in contention for a playoff spot. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen. Now we expect them to beat the Ivory Coast. We are going to support them. We have played twice in Kenya now, and we always feel welcome here.”
By Martin Moses
