Football: Fifa World Cup Africa qualifiers – Seychelles v Kenya |22 November 2023
Seychelles have lost both qualifiers played so far
Seychelles lose 0-5 to the Harambee Stars
- Tail enders after two matches played
Following a heavy 0-9 defeat at the hands of the mighty Ivory Coast in its inaugural match of the 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers at the Olympic Stadium of Ebimpé last Friday, Seychelles suffered another defeat in its second group F match on Monday, losing 0-5 to the Harambee Stars of Kenya at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan.
A brace from skipper Michael Olunga in the first five minutes put the Kenyans in control in the Group "F" fixture before further goals from Masoud Juma and the Gor Mahia duo of Rooney Onyango and Benson Omala.
The defeat keeps Seychelles, under the guidance of coach Ralph Jean-Louis, at the bottom of the table without any point, having conceded 14 goals.
Kenya, who lost 1-2 to Gabon in their opening match last week scored three goals in the first half, before adding another two in the second 45 minutes.
Against Seychelles, Kenya needed only three minutes to break the defence when Michael Olunga pounced on a poor pass to slot his shot past goalie Carlos Simeon, giving the Harambee Stars an early 1-0 advantage.
Just three minutes later, Olunga doubled the score for Kenya after the Seychelles’ defence failed to clear their lines and the striker beat Simeon at the second attempt after the goalkeeper saved his initial effort.
In total control of the match, Kenya failed to convert several clear chances, with Olunga wasting two to complete his hat-trick.
Kenya however scored a third goal in the second minute of added time (45+2), following a throw-in on the left which was taken quickly and Masoud Juma fired past Simeon from close range to make it 3-0 at the break.
In the second half, Rooney Onyango made no mistake in the 62nd minute as he drilled his shot across Simeon into the bottom left corner of the net after Aboud Omar's low cross deflected into his path.
Benson Omalla then completed the scoring 11 minutes later after Onyango latched onto a sloppy pass from Simeon and square the ball for his teammate to tap home into an open net.
The Harambee Stars pushed for a sixth goal, but wayward passing in the final third and a couple of saves from Simeon ensured they would not add to the score line.
The win gave Kenya three points, same as Burundi but with a superior goal difference of positive four, while Ivory Coast who beat Gambia 0-2 Monday evening top the group on six points.
Gabon, having beaten Kenya and Burundi, have six points too, but have an inferior goal difference compared to Ivory Coast, who boast of a massive positive 12.
For the two matches, Jean-Louis was temporarily appointed as the lead coach of the team which is being managed by a caretaker committee, made up of Jonathan Paul (head of delegation), Basil Hoareau (assistant coach), Osama Haroun (technical support), Dylan Paul (liaison and communication officer), Michel Pierre (administration officer), along with three foreign experts who have brought their know-how in goalkeeping, video and field and osteopathy.
Seychelles: C. Simeon, M. Cissoko (S. Ladouce 86'), M. Payet, L. Panayi, G. Waye-Hive, H. Monay (K. Nourice 59'), E. Sopha (M. Freminot 59'), N. Labiche, I. Raheriniaina, R. Damoo (B. Labrosse 59'), R. Henriette (F. Renaud 86').
Kenya: P. Matasi, A. Nondi, J. Omurwa (N. Kibunguchy 89'), D. Ng'ang'a, E. Otieno (A. Omar 46'), R. Onyango (T. Ouma 89'), R. Odada, T. Akumu, E. Johana (A. Masika 66'), M. Olunga, M. Juma (B. Omalla 66').
Results of other matches played on Monday
Djibouti 0-1 Guinea Bissau (Group A)
Liberia 0-1 Equatorial Guinea (Group H)
Seychelles 0-5 Kenya (Group F)
The Gambia 0-2 Côte d'Ivoire (Group F)
Mali 1-1 Central African Republic (Group I)
Chad 0-3 Madagascar (Group I)
Compiled by Roland Duval
