Gabon talisman Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang grabbed a brace to hand new Kenya national team coach Benni McCarthy his first defeat in charge of Harambee Stars during their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying fixture at a sold-out Nyayo Stadium on Sunday.

Aubameyang scored in either half, the second from the penalty spot and despite Kenya's efforts to find their way back after striker Michael Olunga had reduced the deficit, the Panthers held on to register their fifth win of the qualification campaign.

Cheered on by the sold-out crowd which had been deprived of seeing their national team in action for the last two years following the lack of approved stadia by FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Kenya started the strongest side with midfielder Akumu forcing Gabon goalkeeper Loyce Mbaba into an early save with only two minutes played.

The Panthers then responded with an attack of their own five minutes later, when former Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang exchanged play with Mario Lemina and they caught goalkeeper Otieno off his line, but the Kenyan made a quick turn to backtrack and clear the danger out for a goal-kick.

From the missed opportunity, Gabon took control of the game for the first time in the game, creating chance after chance and in the 15th minute they were rewarded when Aubameyang found himself with acres of space inside the danger zone to slot the ball past Otieno for the opener.

Kenya responded immediately with a counter-attacking move and Olunga found the back of the net from close range after a delivery from Omurwa from the right wing, but his effort was ruled out for offside despite Kenyan fans already out of their seats.

The disallowed goal did not kill the morale of Harambee Stars as they kept attacking for the leveller and the next chance fell to Olunga, but after turning two defenders inside out, he shot his effort off the mark. Another opportunity fell to Olunga once again, this time the former Gor Mahia and current Al Duhail SC striker, unleashing a left-footed effort from outside the 18-yard area but it rattled the upright side of the post and strolled back to play before a Gabon defender finally came out to clear the ball to safety.

The half-time whistle went off with Gabon leading 1-0 but from the chances Kenya had created, they deserved to have a goal from it. The second half started with Gabon making a substitution, Moucketou-Moussounda, who was on a yellow card being replaced.

Three minutes later, Gabon doubled their lead to silence Kenyan fans, a dangerous move from the right side hitting the hand of Ouma and the referee pointed to the penalty spot. Aubameyang stepped up to score the resultant kick for his brace of the day, sending Otieno the wrong way.

With McCarthy preparing for a double change, Harambee Stars finally managed to reduce the deficit from a counter-attacking move. A superb cross from the overlapping Ouma found Olunga at the far post and he managed to sneak the ball past Mbaba to the excitement of the crowd at Nyayo Stadium.