Gambia Thrash Kenya 3-1 in World Cup Qualifier

Minteh stars as Gambia secure 3-1 win over Kenya

Yankuba Minteh was in top form as Gambia secured a win over Kenya. Gambia beat Kenya 3-1 in their World Cup qualifier match. Read more about the match.

Kenya continued to push for an equalizer despite the setback, with Olunga and Wilson creating promising opportunities...

Yankuba Minteh was instrumental in Gambia's 3-1 victory over Kenya in their Group F World Cup qualifier match. The Brighton & Hove Albion winger showcased his speed and skill, setting up Sheriff Sinyan's opening goal with a corner kick that Sinyan headed into the net in the 12th minute. Minteh's performance was a thorn in Kenya's side, as he consistently terrorized the Kenyan defense with his pace.

Minteh's impact continued when he scored the second goal, finishing off Barrows' cross with a beautiful finish in the 25th minute. His pace and agility allowed him to outmaneuver the Kenyan defenders, leaving them struggling to keep up. Before halftime, Musa Barrow sealed the win for Gambia with a volleyed goal, assisted by Adama Sidibeh's cross, making it 3-0.

The match between Kenya and Gambia ended in a 3-1 victory for the visiting team, further complicating Kenya's World Cup qualification prospects. Kenya's chances were already slim after Gabon's dominant performance against Seychelles. Despite the daunting task, coach Benni McCarthy's team showed glimpses of quality in the early stages. William Wilson's shot hit the post, and Michael Olunga had a chance to score but couldn't capitalize on it. Ryan Ogam's late goal provided some consolation but wasn't enough to alter the result.

Minteh's Masterclass

Gambia's Yankuba Minteh proved to be the game-changer, as he set up the opening goal in the 12th minute. Minteh delivered a precise corner kick that found Sheriff Sinyan unmarked inside the box, allowing him to head the ball past Bryne Omondi and give Gambia the lead. This goal marked Gambia's first real chance of the game, which they capitalized on to take the lead and silence the home crowd.

Minteh's influence continued to shape the game, as he scored the second goal with a beautiful finish in the 25th minute. Before halftime, Musa Barrow sealed the win for Gambia with a volleyed goal, assisted by Adama Sidibeh's cross, making it 3-0. Kenya managed to pull one back late in the game through Ryan Ogam, but it was too little, too late, as Gambia secured a 3-1 victory.

Kenya continued to push for an equalizer despite the setback, with Olunga and Wilson creating promising opportunities. However, before they could level the scores, Gambia doubled their lead in the 26th minute. A well-placed through ball found Minteh, who calmly rolled the ball past Omondi with his left foot, giving the visitors a 2-0 advantage.

Minteh had another chance to score from a counter-attack but chose to pass to Sinyan instead of shooting himself. Sinyan's effort went off target, denying Gambia a third goal before halftime. Despite this, Gambia's lead was already significant, and Kenya's task of coming back into the game seemed increasingly difficult.

Gambia extended their lead to 3-0 in the 39th minute, thanks to Minteh's pinpoint cross from the right wing. The cross found Musa Barrow, who was unmarked in the box, and he volleyed the ball into the right corner of the net with his right foot. When the halftime whistle blew, Kenya's coach, Benni McCarthy, must have breathed a sigh of relief, as his team could have been facing an even bigger deficit if not for some good fortune and goalkeeping.

Late Consolation

Ryan Ogam scored a consolation goal for Kenya in the 81st minute, reducing the deficit to 2 goals. However, it was too little, too late, as Gambia had already secured a commanding lead in the first half. Despite Ogam's late strike, Kenya's chances of qualifying for the World Cup had already taken a significant hit, and this result only added to their struggles.

Kenya's World Cup qualification journey began with a tough 2-1 loss to Gabon, but they bounced back with a resounding 5-0 victory over Seychelles. However, their momentum was tempered by a 1-1 draw against Burundi and a 0-0 stalemate with Ivory Coast, the African champions. Under the guidance of coach Benni McCarthy, who signed a two-year contract to lead the team, Kenya's fortunes fluctuated. They managed to secure a thrilling 3-3 draw against Gambia, coming from behind twice, but ultimately lost 2-1 to Gabon in a match inspired by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Kenya's current standing in Group F is fourth, with six points from six matches, trailing behind Gabon, Ivory Coast, and Burundi. To keep their World Cup hopes alive, they need to win all their remaining matches and hope that Ivory Coast and Burundi drop points. Specifically, Kenya must beat Gambia and Seychelles in their upcoming fixtures and then triumph over Burundi and Ivory Coast in October. The maximum points Kenya can attain is 18, but given Gabon's current lead, it's unlikely they'll finish first.