Harambee Stars' striker Ryan Ogam (15) leads the celebrations after scoring against Burundi/HANDOUT
Their journey in these qualifiers has already come to a close. The mathematics ended weeks ago, long before the trip to Bujumbura, when a bruising 3-1 defeat to Gambia at Moi Stadium, Kasarani, snuffed out Kenya’s lofty dreams of a maiden World Cup appearance.
But football is more than equations; sometimes, it’s about how a team carries its scars. Last Thursday, under the quiet lights of the Intwari Stadium in Bunjumbura, the Stars found a spark of redemption.
Ryan Ogam’s cleanly struck finish midway through the second half handed Kenya a 1-0 victory over Burundi — a win that may not alter the standings, but certainly restored some dignity.
Now, they travel to Abidjan — not as contenders, but as custodians of pride. Their first meeting with the Ivorians, in Lilongwe’s Bingu National Stadium, had ended in a 1-1 draw under Engin Firat’s watch.
This time, with McCarthy at the helm, Kenya walk into a lion’s den carrying nothing but belief and intent.
McCarthy speaks with the calm certainty of a man who has known both triumph and torment in football.
For him, Tuesday’s tie is not a dead rubber — it is a mirror reflecting the team’s progress under his watch.
“We know qualification is gone, but that doesn’t mean we stop competing,” McCarthy said. “Pride is still on the line. Every match is a classroom, every minute an opportunity to grow. We’ll fight until the end, because that’s what this shirt demands.”
Since taking charge, McCarthy has tried to rewire Kenya’s mentality — teaching his players to trust structure, to move as one, to believe that discipline is also a form of artistry.
“These boys are beginning to understand that playing for Kenya isn’t about surviving matches,” he said. “It’s about playing with courage, composure, and identity.”
Captain Michael Olunga remains the heartbeat of this squad — steady, articulate and unbending in belief. For him, the upcoming clash is not about redemption, but responsibility.
“We know we’re out, but the badge still matters,” he said. “When you wear the red, green and black, you carry a nation’s voice. You can’t walk onto that pitch half-heartedly. You go there to honour every Kenyan who still believes.”
Olunga, who found the net in the 1-1 draw against Cote d'Ivoire in Malawi, says Tuesday’s test will demand focus and character.
“We’ve played them before — we know their rhythm, their pace, their arrogance,” he said. “They’re champions for a reason. But we’re not tourists in Abidjan. We’re players with something to prove.”
Côte d'Ivoire are desperate for a win to steer clear of close rivals Gabon, who are only a point adrift.
They enter the fray buoyed by an emphatic 7-0 win against Seychelles on Friday. Their bench is deep, their rhythm unbroken.
Captain Franck Kessié and striker Sébastien Haller are expected to feature — faces that have come to define the Elephants’ new era of consistency.
For Kenya, this is a mountain to climb, but one they seem eager to scale. McCarthy has no illusions about the challenge ahead.
“Ivory Coast play with precision and power,” he said. “They punish mistakes. So we’ll need to be smart, organised, and fearless. You don’t silence a giant — you make him respect your effort.”
That, perhaps, is McCarthy’s entire mission in one sentence: not to conquer the continent overnight, but to make it pause and notice Kenya again.
Beneath the scorelines, a quiet evolution is happening. Kenya’s football has long been defined by flashes of brilliance buried under waves of inconsistency.
McCarthy seems intent on rewriting that story. He has introduced professionalism — demanding punctuality, conditioning, and tactical literacy. And though results have not yet reflected revolution, the signs are there.
“You can’t change a football culture in a month,” McCarthy reflected. “But you can plant a seed. That’s what we’re doing — slowly, patiently, with purpose.”
Ryan Ogam’s emergence is proof of that. His goal against Burundi was not just a winner; it was a statement that a new generation is ready to inherit the fight.
As the Stars prepare for their final outing, there is a quiet sense of unity. The scoreboard no longer dictates meaning — only the performance does.
“This team has been through a storm,” said McCarthy. “But you judge men not by how they fall, but how they rise. Tuesday is our chance to rise.”
“We might be out, but we’re not broken. We’ll play with pride, for ourselves, for our flag, for our people. That’s what remains,” Olunga added.
And perhaps, in that spirit — stripped of mathematics and medals — lies the truest heart of the Harambee Stars: a team learning to stand again.
