Betting Tips: Kenya vs Gambia, Match Preview, Team News and Betting Guide
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Reading Time: 4min | Fri. 05.09.25. | 07:00
The Harambee Stars sit fourth with 6 points, twelve behind leaders Ivory Coast and ten adrift of Gabon, while Gambia trail with 4 points
Kenya continues their push for a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup when they hosts The Gambia in a Group F qualifier this Friday at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.
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Both sides are desperate for points in what is shaping up to be one of the most competitive groups in African qualifiers.
The Harambee Stars sit fourth with 6 points, twelve behind leaders Ivory Coast and ten adrift of Gabon, while Gambia trail with 4 points.
With only the group winner progressing automatically, this fixture already has the feel of a six-pointer.
Kenya’s last qualifier was a battling 2-1 loss to Gabon, followed by a spirited 3-3 draw with Gambia.
That said, the math does not favour Kenya.
Gabon’s points tally already matches the maximum the Harambee Stars can reach, and having fallen to the Panthers both home and away, their hopes of qualifying for the World Cup are virtually gone.
Stars' only slim possibility now lies in chasing second place, though that ambition could vanish as early as Friday if they fail to beat Gambia.
Even with victory, Kenya would still require Burundi to topple the Ivory Coast to keep their faint hopes alive.
For both teams, this is very much a “must-not-lose” clash.
Kenya’s strong home record may tilt the odds slightly in their favour, though the Scorpions’ individual attacking talent means an upset is always possible.
Match Preview
Under coach Benni McCarthy, the Harambee Stars are slowly gaining belief, blending seasoned internationals with emerging talent.
Their recent form reads a win, 3 draws, and a defeat from their last five qualifiers.
Encouragingly, they’ve kept two clean sheets in that stretch, a sign of growing defensive organisation.
Backed by the Kasarani crowd, they will see this as a key chance to climb the table.
Kenya will look to talisman and captain Michael Olunga, the country's third-highest ever goalscorer with 32 goals.
The forward who plies his trade in the Qatar Stars League for Al Duhail has the hopes of a nation.
Having scored in the reverse fixture, the skipper heads into the encounter heads high.
Boniface Muchiri, Ulinzi Stars winger who performed strongly well in the just concluded CHAN, will be key for Kenya in providing service for Olunga.
Muchiri’s delivery on crosses is among the top in the country, and he will be looking to maximally utilise
Left back will be an area of concern for Kenya.
The defender will be expected to deal with Yankuba Minteh and Musa Barrow.
CHAN captain Aboud Omar will most likely be tasked with defending that left flank.
Gambia, managed by Jonathan McKinstry, arrived in Nairobi in patchy form, with a win, a draw, and 3 losses.
Their Achilles’ heel has been defence, with 10 goals conceded in that period.
Minteh and Barrow are key in attack for the Gambians.
Minteh, the Brighton and Hove Albion winger, will bring pace, dribbling, and direct threat, traits that saw him win the man of the match award against Manchester City just before the qualifiers.
Musa Barrow, who plies his trade in Al-Taawoun in Saudi Arabia, will bring the creative spark to the side, able to pop up with match-winning moments through his vision and top finishing ability.
Gambia has not managed to keep a clean sheet in these qualifiers yet, an area coach McKinstry will look to address.
Ebou Adams of Derby County, England, is a relentless box-to-box midfielder, combining energy, tackling, and leadership, crucial to Gambia’s midfield balance and protection of the backline.
Key Pointer
• Gambia has not kept a clean sheet in all its World Cup qualifiers.
• Michael Olunga has been reliable, finding the net in four of Kenya’s last five World Cup qualifiers.
• The last meeting between the two saw a high-scoring 3-3 result.
• Gambia has conceded 7 goals in away matches in the World Cup qualifiers.
• Kenya has scored in its last 5 matches
Prediction
This is a finely balanced contest.
Kenya’s home advantage at Kasarani and Olunga’s form make them slight favourites, but Gambia’s pace and creativity in attack, through Minteh and Barrow, mean they cannot be underestimated.
Prediction: Kenya to win and Both Teams to Score
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