FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Harambee Stars Assistant Coach Reveals Biggest Challenge Ahead of Seychelles Clash

Assistant coach Vasili Manousakis has acknowledged that the main concern for Harambee Stars ahead of their meeting with Seychelles is selecting the right squad to avoid the costly mistakes seen in the defeat to The Gambia.

Kenya’s hopes of progressing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers suffered a setback when they lost 3-1 to The Gambia in their most recent Group F fixture. The result came only days after a thrilling 3-3 draw in the first leg, where the Stars had looked more competitive and determined.

In the return match, however, the Scorpions struck early and dominated the opening half. Sheriff Sinyan gave them the lead in the 12th minute, followed by a second from Yankuba Minteh in the 26th. Musa Barrow extended the advantage in the 38th, leaving Kenya trailing 3-0 by halftime. Substitute Ryan Ogam scored in the 81st minute to pull one back, but it was too late for a comeback.

As preparations for the Seychelles encounter continue, Manousakis has outlined the team’s approach and the key issues that must be addressed following the loss.

Harambee Stars’ Biggest Concern Before Facing Seychelles

The assistant coach underlined that the team’s immediate focus is on winning their next fixture and that the technical bench has been concentrating on both fitness and mental toughness.

He noted that Kenya will not spend too much time dissecting Seychelles’ style of play but will instead concentrate on their own tactical improvements to avoid the mistakes that cost them against The Gambia.

“The biggest challenge right now is getting the right combination of players who can make an impact from start to finish,” Manousakis explained in a video shared by Pepeta on X. “We can’t worry about Seychelles, of course, we respect them as an opponent, but we can’t be too focused on what they are doing. We have to concentrate on ourselves, fix our errors and play on the front foot and start well. That gives us a headache about who we need to select to make a difference.”

Reflection on the Defeat to The Gambia

Looking back at the 3-1 loss, Manousakis said the outcome was shaped more by Kenya’s errors than The Gambia’s strengths. The technical team conducted a review of the performance, identifying both encouraging moments and areas where standards were not met.

“Of course, there were many things that we did incredibly well. We started at a very high tempo and thought we had Gambia on the back foot, but I think when you make individual mistakes and we suffer from a goal, that kills the morale,” he observed.

According to the coach, while the side showed better control in the second half, the damage from the opening 45 minutes had already put the match out of reach. He stressed that avoiding such lapses will be essential if the team is to secure maximum points against Seychelles.

Current Group F Standings

The defeat leaves Kenya in fifth place in Group F with six points. Seychelles, who have yet to earn a single point, are at the bottom of the group. At the top, the Ivory Coast leads with 19 points, closely followed by Gabon on 18. Burundi occupies third place with 10 points, while The Gambia sits fourth with seven.

For the Harambee Stars, victory over Seychelles is now crucial to restoring momentum and keeping their World Cup qualifying campaign alive.