Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy has shared his thoughts on why the side struggled against Gabon at the Nyayo National Stadium.
Kenya’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup suffered a major setback after the Harambee Stars fell 2-1 to Gabon at Nyayo Stadium on Sunday.
Despite an inspired home support, Kenya could not contain the Panthers, who secured victory courtesy of a brace from star forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
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South Africans continue to send mixed signals regarding Benni McCarthy’ appointment as Harambee Stars coach.
Michael Olunga’s goal gave the home fans hope, but it was not enough to salvage a result.
In the aftermath of the defeat, Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy admitted that his side struggled with cohesion, something he attributed to the limited time he has had with the team.
“As a team, they had more togetherness than what we had,” McCarthy stated in his post-match interview via FKF Media.
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Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy still has hopes of clinching a World Cup place despite a draw away to the Gambia as he looks to freshen up the team for Gabon on Sunday.
“I’ve only been here a very short while, and there’s only so much you can try and change in one week. So, it was difficult.”
Despite the disappointment, McCarthy praised the passionate Kenyan supporters who turned up in large numbers to cheer the team at Nyayo Stadium.
It was the first match Harambee Stars played on home soil in over two years since the closure of Nyayo and Kasarani for renovations.
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Ian Otieno explains what to expect from Benni McCarthy as Harambee Stars welcome Gabon in the 2026 World Cup qualifier clash.
“We are grateful for the support from the people of Kenya. Wow, this was the most enjoyable experience I’ve had—even compared to playing in Europe,” he expressed.
“This is what African football should be about; it was just beautiful. Unfortunately, we couldn’t give the fans the joy of a win, something to celebrate. But what we can promise is that we will improve—we will get better.”
The loss leaves Harambee Stars in a tough position in their World Cup qualification campaign.
However, with McCarthy emphasizing the need for improvement, Kenyan fans will hope to see a stronger and more cohesive team in the upcoming fixtures.
