Kenya vs Ivory Coast: Okwemba backs Harambee Stars to frustrate The Elephants

Former AFC Leopards attacking midfielder Charles Okwemba is confident Harambee Stars are capable of going toe-to-toe with high-flying Group ‘F’ leaders Ivory Coast in Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier clash.

Head coach Benni McCarthy had warned the West Africans that they will not fear any team, despite their qualification ambitions being pegged on that match, and Okwemba is backing the 'lack of fear' approach.

Ivory Coast are on 23 points, only one ahead of second-placed Gabon and are well aware that any slip-up against the Kenyans on Tuesday could prove costly.

 “It’s very much in order for McCarthy (Benni) to say we don’t fear any team. The moment we step on that pitch I can assure you that any team can produce results against any opponent in this present world of football.

The team will always want to ride on the strongest belief of their head coach and so when you see McCarthy saying so it is for the benefit to our boys to go out there with no doubt that they can produce a win against the African champions,”Okwemba said.

However, according to Okwemba, the ticket-decider clash will not be easy for Harambee Stars who beat Burundi 1-0 last week to climb to third, behind Ivory Coast and Gabon.

Kenya has won two matches in a row for the first time in these World Cup qualifiers but Tuesday clash proves to be their toughest test bearing in mind The Elephants will want to win it by all means to book a ticket for the 2026 World Cup Finals, set for Canada, Mexico and USA.

Already Ghana, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria have qualified and the other four African teams will be known after the last round of matches on Tuesday.

The last time Kenya played Ivory Coast, on June 11 2025, in the first leg World Cup qualifier, the match ended in a barren draw, at the Bingu National Stadium in Malawi. Kenya was forced to host the tie away, due to lack of a suitable venue that met the standards set by the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF).