Harambee Stars endured a challenging November international break, slipping two places to 113th in the latest FIFA World Rankings after consecutive losses in Turkey.
The Kenyan team struggled to turn their chances into goals, facing stiff opposition from Equatorial Guinea and Senegal, and leaving fans with a reminder of the work needed to compete at the highest level.
The campaign started with a 1–0 defeat to Equatorial Guinea at the Emirgan Sport Centre. A penalty in the first half by Jose Miranda, following a foul on him by Rooney Onyango inside the box, gave the hosts the lead.
Kenya created several chances in response. Sylvester Owino, Ryan Ogam, and Jonah Ayunga tested Equatorial Guinea’s defence, but they could not find the breakthrough.
After the interval, Harambee Stars pushed forward, introducing Austin Odhiambo and Ovella Ochieng to add more energy to their attack. Odhiambo came closest to scoring, missing narrowly after a well-placed pass from Onyango.
Meanwhile, goalkeeper Marvin Omondi was busy keeping Kenya in the game, pulling off crucial saves, including a late stop to deny Luis Miguel Asue.
The second match proved far more difficult. Senegal, set to play in the 2026 World Cup, dominated Kenya in an 8–0 victory, one of the heaviest losses for Harambee Stars in recent memory.
Nicolas Jackson opened the scoring within the first nine minutes, and defensive lapses allowed Malick Diouf to add a second before Jackson completed his brace to make it 3–0.
Sadio Mané then took control of the game, scoring a first-half hat-trick, which included a penalty, bringing his total international goals to 48. Senegal went into halftime leading 6–0 and added a seventh through Ibrahim Mbaye.
They completed the rout with a second penalty converted by Chérif Ndiaye. Despite flashes of attacking intent, including Alpha Onyango’s long-range effort and a late chance for Ovella Ochieng, Kenya could not penetrate Senegal’s defence. The match also saw assistant coach Vasili Manousakis sent off for dissent.
These defeats meant Kenya earned no points during the November FIFA window, prompting the drop from 111th to 113th. The ranking slide reflects ongoing struggles for Harambee Stars to secure consistent results on the international stage. Meanwhile, Senegal slipped one place after a 2–0 loss to Brazil, while Spain retained their top position in the global standings.
