Benni McCarthy watched as Kenya lost 2-1 at home to Gabon on Sunday evening. This result has placed the Harambee Stars 4th in their group for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifying.
Benni McCarthy has achieved a draw and a loss in his first two matches as head coach of Kenya. The South African will be hoping for improved results during the next FIFA international break, which is scheduled for June 2025.
Benni McCarthy Has a Massive Task at Hand
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored a brace in the first half in Nairobi, giving Gabon a strong lead on Sunday. The hosts managed to pull one goal back but couldn’t get on the scoresheet again.
“As a team, they had more togetherness than what we had [because] I’ve only been here a very short while, and there’s so much you can try and change, but you’re never going to get [things to] how or where you really want to be in only one week with the team,” Benni McCarthy told the press after the defeat.
“So, it was difficult, and we are grateful for the support, the people of Kenya that came out to support – wow, this was the most memorable experience, even in my time playing as a player in Europe, this was what Africa should be about, it was just beautiful.
“But unfortunately, we couldn’t give the fans that joy by giving them a win, something to celebrate, but what we can promise is [that] we will improve and get better, and they will have a team that they can be very proud of.” He stated.
Benni McCarthy has four matches left in Group F of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, aiming to finish in the top two of a challenging group. Kenya’s remaining fixtures are against Ivory Coast, Gambia, Seychelles, and Burundi.
Is The FIFA World Cup a Step Too Far for Kenya?
Considering that the Harambee Stars have never qualified for the FIFA World Cup, would it be fair to criticise Benni McCarthy if they once again fail to qualify for the next edition of this prestigious event?
What is the greatest achievement that Benni McCarthy can aspire to as the head coach of Kenya? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1!
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