- The Kenya vs Gambia 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier match that was played on Thursday in Ivory Coast ended 3-3.
- Kenya’s head coach Benni McCarthy has stated that there is still room for his team to improve.
- McCarthy has also revealed how he will approach the eagerly awaited Kenya vs Gabon fixture that is set to take place in Nairobi on Sunday, March 23, 2025.
The Kenya national team head coach Benni McCarthy has lauded his players after they displayed nerves of steel to come back from behind twice and secure a 3-3 draw with the Gambia in a FIFA World Cup qualifier match that was played on Thursday.
Kenya found themselves trailing the hosts 2-0 a few minutes from the start of the second half.
The Gambia, who tormented the Harambee Stars backline throughout the match, opened the scoring in the 55th minute through Musa Barrow before Brighton & Hove Albion forward Yankuba Minteh made it 2-0 six minutes later.
As the hotly contested game went on, Kenya was able to get a penalty after Jonah Ayunga was brought down in the danger area, thus allowing Michael Olunga to net the 31st goal of his Harambee Stars career.
Kenyan players celebrate a goal in the clash against Gambia.
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Super substitute Mohammed Bajaber went on to make it 2-2 before Barrow put Gambia 3-2 ahead in the 84th to dash the hopes of Kenya getting anything from the encounter.
However, William Lenkupae, who was introduced in the second half alongside the likes of Bajaber, Ayunga and Duke Abuya, went on to score a last minute goal to send the Kenyan camp into wild celebrations.
The draw helped Kenya to maintain their fourth position in Group F with six points, two more than Gambia.
McCarthy pleased with Kenya’s performance against Gambia
McCarthy, who took charge of the team earlier this month, stated during the post-match press conference that he was super proud of his players.
According to the tactician, who has coached the likes of Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes, the players represented Kenya well.
“Of course, I think energy wise and performance wise, has taken out a lot of the players today. A lot of them have given me everything that they have got.
And that is why we are exceptionally happy and proud of them, for coming back twice to gain a point,” he stated.
The South African native added that there is still a lot of room for improvement for the Harambee Stars players.
“A draw doesn’t help us either or Gambia, but I will take it since it is my first game in charge of the Kenyan national team. So happy with the point, happy with what I have seen and lots to progress, lots to improve on this.
But the positive that I have seen today, I think gives me a bit of hope, that another day training or two sessions that we can squeeze in until the next big against Gabon. It gives me a little bit of hope that we can probably go one step better than today,” explained the ex-Porto FC forward.
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How McCarthy is expected to approach the Kenya vs Gabon game
Moreover, McCarthy hinted that he is going to use most of the players who started on the bench against Gabon.
As maintained by him, he wants to give all the players an opportunity to showcase their God given abilities.
“For Sunday’s game it is about trying to recover as best as we possibly can, and trust wherever players we have available to put on Sunday because I think, this team, the first half team that was put out, which for me was a very strong Kenyan team, with players that play in well-respected leagues in Europe.
And, I don’t think many of them will be available, fit and ready, that you would want for Sunday, So, I am going to have to rely a lot on the bench, the players that didn’t get an opportunity to play today,” he ended.
Kenya is expected to host Gabon at the Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday from 4 PM East African Time (EAT).
This will be the first match that Harambee Stars will be playing in front of their home supporters for the first time in over three years.
Should McCarthy guide Kenya to a victory, he will win the hearts of many Kenyan fans ahead of the upcoming fixtures.