Benni McCarthy promises improved Kenya after loss to experienced Ivory Coast

The Harambee Stars went into the fixture without a chance of reaching the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but a victory or draw would have allowed Gabon to claim the automatic qualifying spot ahead of Ivory Coast.

However, the Elephants took charge of the encounter with an early strike from midfielder Frank Kessie in the seventh minute as they dominated the visitors.

Two second half strikes from Yan Diomande and Amad Diallo ensured a comfortable victory for Ivory Coast, securing qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

"The objective was to go out there and try and complicate for Ivory Coast national team because we are a professional team," said McCarthy to reporters after the match.

"We do not want to come here to lose the match, but you have to give credit where it is due. But unfortunately, when you play against such experience and quality against a team like Ivory Coast, it is always going to be difficult no matter how tactically you try to set out the game."

McCarthy joined the Kenya in March 2025 as the nation attempted to revive an ailing qualifying campaign for next year's World Cup and says his side can only learn an improve from competing against the best in the continent.

"They (Ivory Coast) just have too many individual quality players that can change a match," added the 47-year-old.

"Amad Diallo is one of those players, Nicolas Pepe, so it was always going to be almost impossible for us to stop a very good Ivory Coast team, but it was a fantastic learning experience but in two years' time, we will be ready and at a better level to be able to compete with teams like Ivory Coast."

Kenya finished the qualifiers in fourth position of Group F.