Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy has explained how he plans to approach the crucial 2026 World Cup qualifier against The Gambia on Thursday.
Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy has his tactics that he hopes to employ against The Gambia when his team faces Johnathan McKinstry’s men but he feels that alone is not enough.
Kenya play away to The Gambia at the Alassane Ouattara Ebimpe Olympic Stadium in Abidjan, Ivory Coast at 10pm Kenyan time on Thursday and face a must-win situation to revive their 2026 World Cup qualification hopes.
McCarthy has seen enough in his squad to give him confidence of all three points, which would take his team to eight points from five matches, ahead of Sunday’s fixture at home to Gabon.
“From what I saw from the players, we can definitely achieve something tomorrow [Thursday] against Gambia,” McCarthy said on Wednesday after a late training session.
Former Harambee Stars coach Francis Kimanzi has shed light on Benni McCarthy’s thoughts on the quality of the Kenyan national football team.
“No football match is easy, it is going to be very difficult and they are going to make it extremely difficult for us but I am positive, I am excited about the squad that we have assembled and the quality we saw in training.
“I have a lot of positives and lots to look forward to in the game and hopefully, we will do as I am expecting us to do and that is to fly back to Kenya with all three points.”
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However, the South African believes his team needs much more than tactics to triumph, emphasising the need to enjoy the game even as they look for a positive result.
“The best way for us to play football is to play with a smile on your face. You see the best players in the world, Neymar, Ronaldo, Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Raphinha. You see these guys and the level that they play, you always see them have a smile on their face, they love what they do,” he added.
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The Joe Kadenge stadium, formerly City stadium, which previously served as home ground for Gor Mahia is expected to be in usable condition following renovations.
“That is what I try and bring in. You see now the players are smiling and having a joke but they also know when it is time to work is time to work and be serious but we do it with a smile on our face because there is nothing more than we want to do and that is to play football and enjoy what we do.
“That is what we brought into this team and hopefully, it transpires throughout the players and tomorrow [Thursday], they are just going out there and enjoying themselves and having fun but also, when it comes to trying to win a football match, that is what we are going to do.”
This will be McCarthy’s maiden match in charge of Harambee Stars and it is also the first time Kenya and The Gambia are facing off.
Former Gor Mahia coach McKinstry has been coach of The Gambia since June 2024 and has knowledge over the Kenyan players following his two-year stint with K’Ogalo which will give him confidence of a win over McCarthy, who has been in the job for just over two weeks.
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Harambee Stars goalkeeper trainer Moeneeb Josephs has hit out at the South African giants for not showing respect and sportsmanship following their recent league loss.
