Burundi will be hosting Kenya at the Intwari Stadium on Thursday in matchday nine of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in Africa.
The hosts sit fourth in the qualifying group, nine points adrift of second, while the visitors, in fifth, trail by a single point meaning this will be a dead rubber clash.
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Burundi endured consecutive defeats last month-a 1-0 loss to Ivory Coast and a 2-0 reverse against Gambia-to end their hopes of a maiden World Cup appearance for Patrick Sangwa’s men, who also failed to find the net in successive qualifiers for the first time in this campaign.
The Swallows have however looked lively in attack throughout the qualifiers, netting 13 goals though conceding 10 at the other end reflects defensive vulnerability.
As for Kenya, they suffered a 1-0 defeat at this same ground in the African Nations Championship qualifiers back in 2012 – their first competitive meeting – while the next four encounters all ended level after normal time.
The Benni McCarthy side have also impressed going forward, though 10 of their 17 goals in the campaign came against Seychelles, while their defence has been equally inconsistent with 13 shipped – setting up a contest where both sides could find the net given Burundi’s tendency to score and concede freely.
Form
Burundi
• World Cup Qualifiers Form: DWLWLL
• All Competitions Form: LWWDLL
Harambee Stars
• World Cup Qualifiers Form: DDDLLW
• All Competitions Form: DWWLLW
Team News
Head coach Sangwa omitted captain Frederic Nsabiyumva from his 25-man squad called to represent Burundi in this month’s games. Sudi Abdallah has also been left out despite being the joint top scorer in the World Cup qualifiers with three goals. Bienvenue Kanakimana could once again lead the line as he looks to add to his tally of three goals in the qualifiers.
For Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy, he has retained the core of the group that featured in the September double header. Daniel Sakari makes a return to the senior national team, having not featured in the World Cup qualifiers this year, though he represented Kenya at the African Nations Championship in August.
Olunga is that he is just three goals away from matching William Ouma’s all-time record for Kenya (35), while the skipper could operate just behind Ryan Ogam, who also struck twice in the previous match to take his tally to four for the campaign.
Possible Line Ups
Burundi XI: Nahimana (GK), Weymans, Nduwarugira, Niyukuri, Dushime, Muderi; Girumugisha, Bzoza, Msanga, Eldhino; Kanakimana
Kenya XI: Bwire (GK), R Onyango, Sichenje, S. Owino, Okwaro, T. Ouma, Alpha, W Wilson, Olunga, Stanley, Ogam
Prediction
Neither side have registered more than a goal in each of their last four outings, all ending in draws, so another low-scoring stalemate looks the likely outcome.
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