Kenya and Seychelles set for pride battle in World Cup Qualifiers

Kenya will take on Seychelles on Tuesday afternoon in a 2026 World Cup qualifying encounter that carries little weight in terms of progression but significant meaning for pride and dignity.

The match, scheduled for a 13:00 GMT kick-off at the Safaricom Stadium in Kasarani, pairs two sides already out of contention in Group F.

Kenya sit fifth in the table with six points, while Seychelles remain rooted to the bottom without a single point to their name after seven rounds.

For Kenya, the campaign has been one of missed opportunities and inconsistency. A side once tipped to mount a stronger challenge finds itself languishing in the lower half of the standings, their hopes of reaching the tournament long extinguished.

Tuesday’s fixture offers a chance to end the qualifiers on a more respectable note and to give home fans something positive to take away from what has been a largely disappointing journey.

Seychelles, meanwhile, enter the clash knowing they have nothing but pride to play for. The island nation has endured a torrid qualifying run, losing every match so far.

Their defensive frailties and lack of firepower have left them unable to compete with stronger opponents, and another defeat in Nairobi would only deepen their misery. However, a surprise result, however unlikely, would provide a small but meaningful consolation.

The positioning of the two teams highlights the gulf in quality that has defined Group F. Kenya’s six points represent isolated flashes of competitiveness, but those moments have not been enough to compensate for lapses in concentration and a lack of cutting edge in front of goal.

For head coach and players alike, the challenge will be to demonstrate resilience and end the campaign with a convincing performance against the group’s weakest side.

For Seychelles, the task remains daunting. Conceding heavily in most of their fixtures and struggling to maintain possession, they have found themselves on the back foot almost from the first whistle in every game.

Yet matches such as these can serve as learning experiences, and the players will be keen to show character despite the imbalance in resources and footballing infrastructure between them and their opponents.

Supporters at the Kasarani stadium will expect Kenya to take command early, control possession, and translate superiority into goals. For the Harambee Stars, anything less than a win would be viewed as a major embarrassment.

The match also provides fringe players an opportunity to impress and possibly stake a claim for inclusion in future competitions, with the team’s longer-term rebuilding process already in motion.

On the other side, Seychelles will seek to frustrate their hosts, remain organised, and perhaps capitalise on rare counterattacking chances.

While the odds are firmly stacked against them, the desire to avoid a complete whitewash in the group may spur them to deliver a more disciplined display.

Ultimately, while qualification is no longer at stake, the contest remains significant. Football at this stage is about pride, professionalism, and the duty players owe to their national colours. Kenya will want to demonstrate their superiority, while Seychelles will aim to prove that they can at least compete.

As the curtain falls on their respective campaigns, both sides know this encounter is less about standings and more about leaving the field with dignity intact. For Kenya, victory would offer a measure of consolation; for Seychelles, even a point would feel like triumph.