Harambee Stars captain Michael Olunga has asked Kenyan fans to draw a clear line between constructive criticism and cyberbullying in their assessment of the national team’s performances.
The Al Arabi striker was the target of intense online backlash after Kenya’s 3-1 defeat to The Gambia in a 2026 World Cup qualifier last week.
The result dented Kenya’s hopes of reaching the tournament for the first time in their history, with in-form winger Yankuba Minteh inspiring the Scorpions to a dominant first-half display.
Ryan Ogam’s late consolation offered little reprieve as coach Benni McCarthy’s side were second best throughout.
Olunga, who returned to the starting line-up for the first time since March, endured a frustrating evening and was singled out by fans who expected him to deliver in the high-stakes fixture.
But after scoring twice in Kenya’s emphatic 5-0 victory over Seychelles on Tuesday, the 30-year-old hit back at the criticism, warning against the excesses of social media abuse.
“It is part of the game; if you want to become a leader and a player, you have to handle criticism,” Olunga said. “Of course, positive criticism is welcome, but at the same time, we have to draw the line between positive criticism and cyberbullying.”
The forward acknowledged that fan feedback often stems from a genuine desire to see the team succeed. “At the end of the day, criticism makes us better, and it means that the fans want the best out of the players and the national team,” he added.
Olunga’s brace against Seychelles took his international tally to 34 goals, equalling the record set by legendary striker Dennis Oliech. The win also secured Kenya’s second victory of the campaign, having beaten the same opponents 5-0 in Abidjan in 2023.
Kenya next face Burundi on 8 October before taking on African champions Ivory Coast two days later in what will be a defining test of their qualification hopes.
