The making of Kenya’s next goal poacher: Ryan Ogam’s goals in numbers
By Luke Oluoch, March 29, 2026Harambee Stars striker Ryan Ogam seeks to extend his fine form for the national team during the FIFA Series this Monday, March 30, 2026, as Kenya faces Grenada in the third-place playoff at the Amahoro Stadium.
Despite being sidelined at his Austrian club in recent months, Ogam made a triumphant return to national team duty, scoring Kenya’s equaliser to send the tie to a penalty shootout, where Kenya eventually lost.
Kenya missed out on the final following a late penalty heartbreak at the hands of the European nation.
K24 Digital breakdown of the striker’s goals for Harambee Stars.
The former Rainbow and Tusker FC ace has so far scored a remarkable total of 8 goals for Kenya. His scoring run has seen him tipped as the heir apparent to Michael Olunga as he bids to join the elite company of Kenya’s greatest continental goal poachers.
He was first called up to the national team in January 2025 for the inaugural Mapinduzi Cup, where he made a scoring debut in a 2-0 victory against Tanzania on January 7, 2025.
McCarthy tenure
His most memorable moments under coach Benni McCarthy came during the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), where he scored two crucial goals.
His dazzling performances led Kenya to stunning 1-0 victories over Morocco and Zambia, securing a place in the quarter-finals for the first time in the country’s history.
The left-footed poacher also had a goal controversially disallowed in the quarterfinal tie due to the absence of VAR.
On the international stage during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification matches, the Kenyan made his impact with four goals.
Ogam was the bright spot in Kenya’s 3-1 defeat against Gambia on September 5, 2025, scoring the team’s consolation goal against John McKinstry’s men at Kasarani Stadium.
WCQ goals
He carried his scoring boots into the next game, netting a brace in a dominant 5-0 win over Seychelles to take his international tally to seven, even as Kenya’s World Cup dreams were dashed with a fifth-place finish in their group.
Prior to his recent goal against Estonia, Ogam’s last strike came on October 9, 2025, at the Stade Intwari in Bujumbura, Burundi.
Benni McCarthy’s side took advantage of an early red card for the hosts to defeat Burundi 1-0. Ogam stepped off the substitute bench to decide the tie in the 72nd minute, just seven minutes after coming on.
That strike was his fourth goal in three matches at the time; he has since moved to five goals in his last four international appearances ahead of monday’s fixture.