Kenya’s Harambee Stars fell two spots in the latest FIFA rankings to 111th place after their hopes for the 2026 World Cup ended this month. 

The key reason was a damaging 3-1 defeat at home to Gambia, which cost them valuable points, even though they later crushed Seychelles 5-0. 

Coach Benni McCarthy is now under pressure to bring consistency to the team, which is preparing for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), a tournament Kenya will co-host. 

The team’s immediate goal is to improve morale and rankings with better results in their next matches.

The ranking dip was largely a consequence of the team’s World Cup qualification matches. 

On September 5, the Harambee Stars suffered a disappointing 3-1 loss at home to Gambia at the Moi International Sports Centre in Kasarani. 

Crucially, the loss came against a side previously ranked below them, meaning a significant number of ranking points were lost. 

The early defeat, where the Stars conceded three goals within the opening 38 minutes, effectively knocked them out of contention for the 2026 World Cup.

However, the team showed character four days later by demolishing the low-ranked Seychelles team 5-0. 

Captain Michael Olunga and forward Ryan Ogam each netted a brace, but beating a team ranked 203rd out of 210 provided only minimal points, highlighting the strict criteria of FIFA’s Elo-based system, which prioritizes wins against higher-ranked opponents. 

This result keeps Kenya in 5th place in Group F of the qualifiers, behind powerhouses Ivory Coast and Gabon, and only marginally behind Gambia and Burundi.

The crucial loss to Gambia immediately focused criticism on head coach Benni McCarthy. 

The former South African international and UEFA Champions League winner, who took the helm in July 2025, faced backlash from fans and pundits like Fred Arocho for his squad selections. 

McCarthy is known for his assertive style and tactical discipline, influenced by his time under Jose Mourinho.

McCarthy defended his choices, stating the loss exposed “shortcomings” in some players at the international level and that his post-game challenge led to the strong response against Seychelles. 

His coaching tenure aims to instill a champion’s mindset and professionalize the squad ahead of Kenya’s co-hosting of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

While Kenya remains outside the top 100, its East African rivals have also seen movement. 

Uganda sits highest in the region at 82nd globally (up six places), followed by Tanzania at 107th (down four). 

Continentally, the biggest success stories are Morocco (11th globally) and Senegal (18th), who top the African rankings.

With the 2026 World Cup off the table, the Harambee Stars now shift their focus to building a competitive team for the 2027 AFCON. 

Captain Michael Olunga continues to be the team’s talisman, with his two goals against Seychelles raising his national team tally to 34 goals, just one shy of William Ouma’s all-time Kenyan record of 35 goals. 

Positive results in the upcoming qualifiers against Burundi and Ivory Coast in October will be key to boosting morale and improving the ranking ahead of their major host role in two years.