2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers: Bafana Bafana legend Benni McCarthy admits to Kenya's diminishing opportunities after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang sank Harambee Stars but hopeful of sneaking through at the last-minute

Kenya lost 2-1 to Gabon in a 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifier at Nyanyo National Stadium on Sunday with former Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang grabbing a brace for the visitors.

It was coach Benni McCarthy's second game in charge of the Harambee Stars and Sunday's defeat left them fourth in Group F with nine points fewer than log leaders Gabon although Ivory Coast could reclaim the lead if they beat Gambia on Monday.

Despite Kenya's difficult position in this campaign, McCarthy is hopeful they could still make it to the second round of the qualifiers.

"Yes, today was a big blow," McCarthy told the media

"It was super-important for us to keep our hopes, that dream alive that we can qualify. It wasn't the result we wanted, the result the players played for.

"Unfortunately, yes the opportunity of qualifying has become even more difficult. But like I said, there are still five more matches to play and from now until the end you want to try and win every game, keep the performance we did against Gambia or today," added the Bafana legend.

"It's positive, I'm not disappointed after 90 minutes or so. We want to continue and win matches and you never know. Maybe mathematically somewhere there might be a glimmer of hope that we can [qualify].

"People sitting with their calculators against Ivory Coast, maybe we might find ourselves in that situation if you win the remaining matches you have left."

McCarthy is yet to guide the Harambee Stars to victory in these qualifiers after drawing 3-3 against Gambia in his first game in charge before Sunday's home defeat.

Kenya are now left with four world qualifying matches as they host Gambia and Seychelles in September before visiting Burundi and Ivory Coast the following month.

That makes it 12 points to play for but claiming them all appears a tough task for McCarthy and his men.

Following the slow start to his tenure as the Harambee Stars coach, McCarthy would be keen on helping his side pick up when Kenya co-hosts the African Nations Championship tournament together with Uganda and Tanzania in August.

Kenya are in a seemingly tough Group A which also has Morocco, Angola, Zambia and DR Congo.