- Harambee Stars boss Benni McCarthy reveals how ridiculous planning set up Harambee Stars for embarrassing defeat against Senegal
- The friendly match, played on November 18 in Turkey, ranks among Kenya’s worst defeats in history.
- McCarthy stated that it was an unplanned fixture but explained that it offered insight into the squad’s situation and what needs to be improved.
Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy has shed light on what really went down during the national team’s heaviest defeat in decades when they suffered an 8–0 drubbing at the hands of Senegal in a friendly match back in 2025.
That encounter, which took place on Tuesday, November 18, in Turkey, was by far the most humiliating outcome the Harambee Stars had endured since a 9–0 thrashing by Zambia in 1978.
This was the last match Kenya played internationally in 2025 and it was also Senegal’s final friendly before heading to AFCON 2025 in Morocco where they went all the way to the final and lifted the trophy.
However, that triumph has recently been surrounded by controversy after they were stripped of the title by CAF.
ALSO READ: Kenya vs Senegal: Harambee Stars end year in painful fashion after heavy thrashing to Mane’s Senegal
McCarthy reveals how ridiculous planning set up Harambee Stars for embarrassing defeat against Senegal
Speaking ahead of Harambee Stars’ participation in the FIFA Series 2026 in Kigali, Rwanda, McCarthy did not shy away from explaining what really unfolded in that disappointing clash, stating that going up against the African champions caught them completely off guard.
“The last game, that wasn’t Kenya,” McCarthy stated. “We were up against the AFCON champions, and when you have a squad full of new, young and experimental players, we weren’t prepared to play Senegal.
Then the plans changed, and all of a sudden you are facing them with a youthful side we had assembled.”
ALSO READ: McCarthy hits back at critics questioning Harambee Stars selection ahead of FIFA Series 2026
The former Bafana Bafana legend wished the team did not play that match owing to the late back-and-forth changes from the organizers, noting that, while it was humiliating, it also served as a wake-up call regarding the squad’s situation.
“You know, it wasn’t a good reflection on the team, on the players, but it is football… We also didn’t feel we had to play because we were supposed to face Madagascar and Comoros. And then it changed again to Equatorial Guinea and Madagascar, and then it changed again to Equatorial Guinea for two matches.
Then a week before the tournament starts, you’re told to play Senegal. So it was completely out of my hands, and the technical team’s, but we honored the fixture and yeah, we got a taste of real international football,” he explained.
In a previous interview, assistant coach Vasili Manousakis also revealed the team had no idea how they landed a friendly against a Senegal side that had not prepared for.
“It was a nice surprise for us. We do not know how or who has agreed to the fixture. We were discussing playing Comoros and Madagascar and I think things changed with the tournament and the guys who were hosting the tournament that side.
Then we got Equatorial Guinea and then a little bit later Senegal was added…We do not know quite how it happened and it will really test our boys against not only the best in Africa but the best in the world,” he said at the time.
McCarthy, who recently wrapped up his first year as head coach, stated that they will not experiment with the squad in such a manner again especially this time around, as they aim to build a team capable of competing strongly in the upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations tournament that Kenya is expected to co-host alongside Uganda and Tanzania.
“So I think from that mistake, now you don’t want to experiment again with young, new players. What we’re building, trying to do now, is to build for the AFCON team. So we want to get the strongest possible players that we have out there.”
McCarthy has already finalized his 23-player squad, which travelled on Tuesday for the FIFA Series tournament where they will compete at Rwanda’s Amahoro Stadium from Friday 27 to Monday 30 March.
ALSO READ: Olunga among replaced players as Harambee Stars alter final squad for FIFA Series 2026
The former Manchester United first-team coach believes that competing in such a competition will give them a chance to bury those previous results and put on a fresh display.
“We’re playing against Estonia, and then if you win, you play the winners of Rwanda and Grenada. It’s a nice little opportunity for us to rectify things and make people forget about our last result. And we’re only as good as your last game, and we all know how that last game ended,” he remarked.
Harambee Stars will begin their FIFA Series campaign against Estonia on Friday, March 27, with the second match scheduled for March 30, depending on the outcome of the opening fixture, which will see Granada take on hosts Rwanda.
Harambee Stars FIFA Series Fixtures
- Kenya vs Estonia – March 27, 6 PM (Amahoro Stadium)
- Winner Match 1 vs Winner Match 2 – March 30, 9 PM (Amahoro Stadium)
- Loser Match 1 vs Loser Match 2 – March 30, 6 PM (Amahoro Stadium)
Harambee Stars Final 23-Man Squad
Goalkeepers: Faruk Shikhalo, Brian Bwire, Ian Otieno
Defenders: Manzur Okwaro, Abud Omar, Alphonce Omija, Mike Kibwage, Frank Odhiambo, Rooney Onyango, Daniel Sakari
Midfielders: Alpha Onyango, Duke Abuya, Richard Odada, Chrispine Erambo, Austine Odhiambo, Will Lenkupae, Mohammed Bajaber
Forwards: Job Ochieng, Zech Obiero, Clarke Oduor, Ryan Ogam, Lawrence Okoth, Ben Stanley