The new Harambee Stars Wonderkids that Stunned in 3-3 Thriller with Gambia.

Harambee Stars, the Kenyan national soccer men’s team, may be in for a bright future as new superstars emerged during Thursday night’s 3-3 goal thriller with Gambia. The new guns couldn’t have come soon enough, as Harambee Stars race for a place in the run-up for 2026 World Cup qualification.

New Harambee Stars coach Benni Macarthy’s decision to integrate young players from both locally and internationally may have opened up a new brand of football with significant potential for football glory. When Stars needed them the most, young Mohammed Bajaber and William Lenkupae delivered a goal each to stage a comeback and secure a point against Gambia.

The match dragged off to a snooze-fest in the first half as a penalty by Gambia was saved by Stars keeper Ian Otieno. Things took a dramatic turn in the second half when hosts Gambia went 2-0 up courtesy of goals from Musa Barrow and Brighton’s Yakuba Minteh. Kenya then pulled up one from the penalty spot before Mohammed Bajabeer scored a sitter from afar. The game was almost slipping away from McCarthy after Gambia took the lead again through Musa Barrow, but a last-minute finish by Australian-born William Lenkupae sealed a draw for Kenya. 

Thursday’s game featured three new debutants: Bajabeer, Lenkupae, and English-born Jonah Ayunga. While Bajabeer plays for local team Kenya Police FC, the other two play overseas in the Australian and Scottish leagues, and their integration into the team gives a lot of options for coach McCarthy to restore Star’s lost glory.

With Thursday’s performance, Harambee Stars are placed fourth with 5 points behind group leaders Gabon, Cote d’Ivoire, and Burundi. After the draw, Gambia rests at 5th place, with the Seychelles holding fort at 6th. The teams have 5-6 more games to play, and the winner of the group secures a ticket to the 2026 World Cup that will be jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States.