Reigning African champions, Ivory Coast, secured their place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, ending a decade-long wait, following a commanding 3-0 victory over Kenya in their final Group F qualifying fixture at the Alassane Ouattara Ebimpé Olympic Stadium on Tuesday.
The Elephants, who entered the match still unbeaten in the group, wasted little time asserting their authority. The breakthrough arrived in the 7th minute when Manchester United forward Amad Diallo initiated a brilliant move before delivering the ball to Al Ahli star Franck Kessié, who calmly slotted home the opener. Kenya’s defense, led by goalkeeper Bryne Omondi and defender Sylvester Owino, battled valiantly, notably with Owino’s early goal-line clearance to deny Diallo. However, Ivory Coast’s dominance, evidenced by 63% possession in the first half, kept the pressure relentless.
The hosts doubled their lead in the 53rd minute through a spectacular solo effort from Yan Diomande. After receiving a cross from Ghislain Konan, Diomande weaved past three Harambee Stars defenders before scoring a stunning goal with his right foot. Amad Diallo, who had been instrumental all night, secured the comprehensive victory in the 84th minute, curling in a beautiful free-kick from the edge of the box to crush Kenya’s slim hopes of a late comeback.
The victory capped an outstanding qualifying campaign for Ivory Coast, who finished Group F with an impressive 26 points from eight wins and two draws, remaining undefeated throughout. The result also confirmed the final positions in the group, with Gabon securing the crucial play-off slot after finishing second with 25 points. Kenya concluded their run in fourth place with 12 points.
In the group’s other fixture, Gambia concluded their campaign in emphatic style, hammering bottom side Seychelles 6-0 at the National Sports Complex Pitch 1 in Mauritius. Adama Sidibeh opened the scoring early, setting the tone for a rampant performance. Abdoulie Manneh was the star of the show, registering a fine hat-trick, while the electric Musa Barrow chipped in with two goals in quick succession. The victory saw Gambia finish with 13 points, while Seychelles endured a tough qualification cycle, finishing without a single point after losing all ten matches and conceding a total of 53 goals.
