• Dylan Kerr hasn’t lost hope
• Disappointing two points from two WCQ games
• Kerr pours hope in believes
• Unbeaten Sudan and Senegal overweigh Karr’s believes
• #UgSportsNow
Former Gor Mahia coach, Dylan Kerr, remains optimistic about Kenya’s chances of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup despite the team’s recent setbacks in the qualifiers. Despite drawing their last two matches against Burundi and Ivory Coast, Kerr believes that Harambee Stars still have a fighting chance to make it to the global tournament.
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Kenya’s double fixture results didn’t satisfy many
In their matchday three fixture, Kenya secured a 1-1 draw against Burundi, followed by a goalless draw against Ivory Coast in matchday four. These results saw Kenya drop to fourth place in the qualifying group with five points. The team’s hopes suffered a blow when the Swallows defeated Seychelles 3-0, moving ahead of Kenya to third place with seven points. Ivory Coast currently leads the group with 10 points, having won three matches and drawn one, while Gabon sits in second place with nine points.
Kerr pours hope in believes
The 57-year-old Kerr believes with the changing dynamics in world football anything is possible.
“Kenya to qualify for 2026 World Cup? Why not qualify because the dynamics in world football have changed and by that I mean everyone is playing the same brand of football and it’s based on stats not what football is about scoring goals and winning games,” Kerr told reporters.
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“It is too soon for Kenya to give up; we have seen setbacks and shocking results in recent qualifiers, who knew Sudan would be sitting at the top of a group where we have former African champions Senegal and even Togo? Do you want to tell me this was scripted, no I don’t think so, dynamics have changed, it doesn’t matter whom you are playing, a game can change in seconds, so Kenya must not give up.”
Sudan under head coach Kwesi Appiah remained among the surprise package in the qualifiers so far as they lead Group B with 10 points, two more than the Lions of Teranga, DR Congo are third with seven points, Togo fourth on three, South Sudan fifth on two and Mauritania last with a single point.
Unbeaten Sudan and Senegal overweigh Karr’s believes
To make the group more interesting, Sudan are still unbeaten alongside Senegal in the first four matches, as they have recorded three wins and one draw.
According to Kerr, who won the FKF Premier League title with Gor Mahia in his first season before he completed a trophy treble in 2018, winning the league, Kenyan Super Cup and SportPesa Super Cup, the Harambee Stars group is still wide open and any team including Kenya can spring a surprise to make it to the top.
Also read: Sudan surge ahead in Group B, Kenya hold African champions
“And again, the Kenya group is still open, we have only played four matches, and it is a group of six teams, Kenya have five points and table leaders Ivory Coast have 10 but what if Ivory Coast loses their next two matches and Kenya win their two? What will happen, will you not see a change at the top?” asked Kerr, who began his playing career with Sheffield Wednesday before moving to Leeds United in 1989.
Kerr added: “It will be suicidal for Kenya to give up at this stage; they must keep the trust because anything is possible.”
Kerr however, bemoaned Kenya’s failure not to haul at least four points from the two matches but hailed their fighting spirit to restrict the African champions to a vital draw. “A point is always a good result but a point against a so-called bigger team and not getting full points against so-called lesser teams is suicidal,” added Kerr.
“From my understanding yet again although an amazing point against a good team, Kenya should have come away with the three points because they played well, took the game to Ivory Coast, and created many chances but were wasteful in front of the goal.”
Following these outcomes, some Kenyan fans expressed disappointment and conceded that the team’s chances of qualifying for the World Cup seemed slim. However, Kerr, who was highly regarded during his coaching tenure with Gor Mahia, where he won the league title, remains steadfast in his belief that Harambee Stars can still achieve the feat.
Despite the challenges faced by the national team, Kerr’s unwavering support demonstrates his confidence in the players and their potential to bounce back from their recent results. His experience coaching in the Kenyan Premier League and his understanding of the local football scene make his opinion valuable and credible.
Given Kerr’s positive outlook and his support for Harambee Stars, it is evident that he believes in the team’s capabilities and resilience. As Kenya continues its journey in the World Cup qualifiers, Kerr’s encouragement and belief in the players could serve as a source of motivation for them to strive for success and keep their World Cup dreams alive.
