The African champions, Ivory Coast, are officially going to the 2026 FIFA World Cup! The Elephants crushed Kenya 3-0 on Tuesday night in their final Group F qualifier at the beautiful Alassane Ouattara Ebimpé Olympic Stadium in Abidjan. It was a night full of energy, goals, and celebration as the home crowd danced and sang from the first whistle to the last.
For Kenya, known as the Harambee Stars, it was a rough ending to what had been a rollercoaster qualification campaign. They had enjoyed back-to-back wins before facing the mighty Elephants, but their dreams of reaching the World Cup were dashed by one of Africa’s strongest teams.
A Clash Between Determination and Power
Kenya came into the match full of confidence after two straight victories. They had bounced back strongly from a 3-1 loss to Gambia earlier in the qualifiers by smashing Seychelles 5-0 and then beating Burundi 1-0 away.
The first time these two teams met, the match ended in a 0-0 draw. That result gave Kenya’s coach Benni McCarthy some hope that maybe, just maybe, his team could surprise the African champions. But Ivory Coast had other ideas. They were unbeaten in the group and had already shown why they were the reigning Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) winners.
Ivory Coast’s Fast Start
From the first few minutes, the Elephants showed their power. In just the 5th minute, Nicolas Pépé — who once played for Arsenal in the English Premier League — created a golden chance for Amad Diallo, the talented winger from Manchester United. Diallo fired a shot that deflected off a defender, and for a moment, everyone thought it was going in. But Kenyan defender Sylvester Owino saved the day with a last-second clearance on the goal line!
Unfortunately for Kenya, that was only a warning sign. Just two minutes later, Franck Kessié, the strong midfielder from Al Ahli and a former Barcelona star, opened the scoring. Diallo passed to him from the left, and Kessié calmly slotted the ball past goalkeeper Bryne Omondi. The crowd erupted! It was 1-0 to Ivory Coast.
Ivory Coast Dominate
Ivory Coast didn’t stop attacking. Pépé almost made it 2-0 in the 17th minute when his powerful header went just inches wide of the post. By the 20th minute, Ivory Coast had 63% possession, while Kenya were stuck at 37%. The Elephants were controlling everything — passing, pressing, and creating chances nonstop.
Kenya barely entered the Ivorian penalty box in the first half. Still, they defended bravely and managed to reach halftime trailing only 1-0. But truthfully, it could have easily been 4-0. The hosts had missed several open chances, and Kenya’s goalkeeper Omondi had made some great saves to keep them in the game.
Diomande Doubles the Lead
After halftime, Kenya made two changes to try and add some energy. Job Ochieng and Adam Wilson came in, but Ivory Coast continued their attacking wave.
In the 53rd minute, young midfielder Yan Diomande scored one of the best goals of the qualifiers. He received a perfect cross from Ghislain Konan, dribbled past three Kenyan defenders like a magician, and then fired a right-footed shot into the bottom corner. The fans went wild again — 2-0 to the Elephants!
Kenya’s defense just couldn’t keep up with the pace and skill of the Ivorians. The home team was playing with confidence, and you could tell they wanted to celebrate qualification in style.
Amad Diallo Seals It
Ivory Coast made a substitution in the 65th minute — Pacôme Zouzoua came on for Pépé to bring fresh legs. Kenya also made a change, bringing on Duke Abuya for striker Michael Olunga, but it didn’t change much.
Then, in the 84th minute, the crowd got exactly what they wanted: a spectacular goal from Amad Diallo. After missing two clear chances earlier in the match, Diallo finally got his moment. He curled a beautiful free-kick into the top corner from the edge of the box. It was pure class — 3-0!
That goal ended any hope of a Kenyan comeback. The final whistle blew, and Ivory Coast’s players hugged, smiled, and waved their national flags proudly.
Ivory Coast’s Perfect Run
Ivory Coast finished top of Group F with 26 points, thanks to eight wins and two draws — and no defeats. They scored plenty of goals and showed why they’re one of Africa’s top football nations.
Gabon finished second with 25 points, earning a play-off spot, while Kenya ended up fourth with 12 points. For the Harambee Stars, it was a learning experience and a reminder that consistency is key in World Cup qualifiers.
Gambia End with Huge Seychelles Win
Meanwhile, in another Group F match, Gambia ended their campaign on a high by thrashing Seychelles 6-0 in Mauritius.
Striker Abdoulie Manneh stole the show with a hat-trick, scoring in the 24th, 67th, and 75th minutes. His teammate Adama Sidibeh opened the scoring just two minutes into the game and later added another.
Star player Musa Barrow, who plays in Italy’s Serie A, also grabbed two quick goals in the 47th and 52nd minutes.
The win gave Gambia 13 points from four victories, one draw, and five losses. Seychelles, on the other hand, finished bottom of the group with zero points, having lost all 10 matches and conceding 53 goals in total. That’s tough — but it shows how competitive African football can be.
Soccer Fact Zone
The FIFA World Cup 2026 will be hosted across three countries: the United States, Canada, and Mexico — the first time in history that three nations will share hosting duties!
Africa will have 10 direct spots for the 2026 World Cup — the highest number ever.
Ivory Coast’s star midfielder Franck Kessié has played in some of the biggest clubs in the world, including AC Milan and Barcelona.
Amad Diallo, the 22-year-old winger, is one of Africa’s most promising young players and is known for his dribbling and free-kick skills.
Combo Ticket (Soccer Betting Insight)
If you were putting together a fun combo ticket for entertainment, these were the smart calls based on form and stats:
Ivory Coast vs Kenya – Over 2.5 Goals ✅
Gambia vs Seychelles – Over 2.5 Goals ✅
Gabon to Win vs Burundi ✅
All three hit perfectly — a dream combo ticket for anyone following African World Cup qualifiers this week!
What’s Next?
With this victory, Ivory Coast join other African powerhouses like Senegal, Nigeria, and Morocco, who are also pushing for qualification. The Elephants will now focus on preparations for the 2026 World Cup, where they’ll try to go further than ever before.
Their fans believe this generation — with stars like Kessié, Diallo, and Diomande — can make history on the global stage.
For Kenya, the journey continues. Under Benni McCarthy, the team showed flashes of improvement, and with more experience, they could challenge again in future tournaments.
Final Score:
Ivory Coast 3–0 Kenya
Ivory Coast qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup
