The match, held at the Alassane Ouattara Ebimpé Olympic Stadium, saw the Ivorians stamp their authority early. The Harambee Stars — Kenya’s national side — had come into the game in decent form, having bounced back from a loss by thumping Seychelles 5–0 at home and then eking out a narrow 1–0 win over Burundi. But those efforts weren’t enough to stop Ivory Coast.
Ivory Coast has officially booked its spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after delivering a dominant 3–0 victory against Kenya in their final Group F qualifier, underlining that they’re serious contenders on the continent.
Within minutes, Ivorian pressure told. Amad Diallo, playing a pivotal role, moved the ball smartly and forced a defender into a miscue — Sylvester Owino’s clearance inadvertently crossed the line, although the goal was not credited as own goal. Soon after, the opener came when Diallo slipped in Franck Kessié, who calmly finished past Kenyan keeper Bryne Omondi.
The game remained one-sided. Ivory Coast controlled possession and territory — by the 20th minute, they had already registered 63% possession. Kenya rarely threatened, unable to push forward with any real danger.
After halftime, Kenya’s coach made adjustments, introducing Job Ochieng and Adam Wilson. But just eight minutes into the second half, Ivory Coast struck again. Yan Diomande collected a pinpoint cross from Ghislain Konan, wove through defenders, and planted a shot into the net.
As the match wore on, the Elephants never relented. Diallo, who had missed a couple of good opportunities earlier, made amends in the 84th minute. Standing just outside the box, he curled a free-kick over the wall and into the corner to finish the scoring and extinguish any hopes Kenya had of a comeback.
The result means Ivory Coast finish top of Group F with a perfect record: eight wins, two draws, and zero defeats (26 points). Gabon claimed the playoff spot by finishing second with 25 points. Kenya settled for fourth with 12 points and exit the qualifying race.
Meanwhile, in a parallel fixture in Group F, Gambia overwhelmed Seychelles 6–0 in Mauritius. Abdoulie Manneh stole the show with a hat-trick, while Adama Sidibeh and Musa Barrow also found the net. The emphatic scoreline sealed Seychelles’ place at the bottom of the group with no points and 53 goals conceded over ten matches.
With their qualification assured, Ivory Coast now turn full attention to preparing for the 2026 World Cup, carrying momentum and confidence from their flawless campaign.
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