Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang delivered a match-winning performance as Gabon secured a vital 2-1 victory against Kenya in Nairobi on Sunday, strengthening their position in Group F of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
The Al Qadsiah striker, who was rested for Gabon’s previous 3-0 win against Seychelles, returned to the starting XI and quickly made an impact.
Early on, he found himself at the center of a chaotic goalmouth scramble but was unable to capitalize.
However, he soon made amends, linking up with Guelor Kanga to break the deadlock in the 16th minute with a well-taken finish.
Kenya, managed by South African football legend Benni McCarthy, responded with determination.
Their captain, Michael Olunga, appeared to have netted an equalizer, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.
The Al-Duhail forward then struck the post moments later, before missing a golden opportunity to level the score with a header from a corner just before halftime.
Aubameyang at the heart of the action
Gabon nearly doubled their advantage early in the second half when Denis Bouanga’s shot hit the post.
But it was Aubameyang who once again proved decisive.
His attempt on goal was blocked by a Kenyan defender’s hand, leading to a penalty.
The former Olympique de Marseille striker made no mistake from the spot, confidently converting in the 52nd minute to give Gabon a two-goal cushion.
⚽️ Aubameyang buteur avec le Gabon 🇬🇦
— SPL 🇸🇦 (@ActuSPL) March 23, 2025
However, Kenya refused to back down. Their persistence paid off in the 62nd minute when Olunga finally found the net, reducing the deficit to 2-1.
The Harambee Stars continued to apply pressure in search of an equalizer, but Gabon held firm in the final half-hour to secure a crucial win.
The result sees Gabon temporarily move to the top of Group F with 15 points, two ahead of Ivory Coast, who have a game in hand and are set to host Gambia on Monday.
2026 World Cup qualifiers – CAF Group F standings
| # | Team | Pts | P | W | D | L | GD | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gabon | 15 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 12 | 6 |
| 2 | Ivory Coast | 13 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 3 | Burundi | 7 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 7 |
| 4 | Kenya | 6 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 8 |
| 5 | Gambia | 4 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 12 | 12 |
| 6 | Seychelles | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | -23 | 2 | 25 |
Gabon’s next challenge will be maintaining their lead at the top of the table as they await Ivory Coast’s result.
Meanwhile, Kenya will need to regroup quickly as they look to keep their qualification hopes alive in the remaining fixtures.
