Any hype generated from Kenya’s exploits in the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) tournament quickly faded as Harambee Stars were beaten 3-1 by Gambia in a World Cup qualifier match.
Before the game, fans were in high spirits, with most expecting the men’s national football team to carry their good form at CHAN into the match against a nation ranked 14 places below them in the FIFA World Rankings.
However, the fans were in for a rude shock after Gambia raced to a surprising 3-0 lead by the 39th minute, leaving fans at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, in stunned silence.
The way Harambee Stars crumbled upset many, with anger directed at coach Benni McCarthy for his team selection. Taking to social media, fans questioned the inclusion of foreign-based stars over the CHAN team, which had managed to reach the quarter-finals of the tournament reserved for players in local leagues.
In the game, the foreign-based players were accused of not being in sync with some of their local counterparts, with fans even calling for early substitutions as things quickly got out of hand for Harambee Stars.
Fans argued that fielding a starting 11 of only ‘CHAN’ players would have maintained the momentum gained from the tournament. They contended that CHAN players had spent considerable time training and playing together, and this familiarity would be crucial during matches against stronger opponents.
However, coach McCarthy dismissed this argument, citing the higher level of quality among teams during World Cup qualifiers. He explained that opponents would have players from top leagues across Europe, such as the English Premier League, making it necessary to include Kenyans playing abroad.
McCarthy even went as far as asserting that Kenya would have lost 10-0 if he had fielded a starting XI of only locally based players, which sparked controversy.
“CHAN- African continent, World Cup qualifiers- international level. Now you are dealing with players who play in Serie A, Premier League, and La Liga. No disrespect to anyone but the Kenyan top-flight compared to the Premier League, Bundesliga is two different worlds,” he stated.
“So you cannot expect me to play the CHAN team, which I would have loved to, but I have to be realistic. I will give you my honest assessment. If I played Omija, Sylvester, Bandi, and Aboud (CHAN players), we get ten. That is the honest truth,” McCarthy said.
Still, McCarthy, who played for top clubs such as Porto, maintained that the team was a work in progress and would need time before all the players would gel well.
How Kenya vs Gambia Went
McCarthy’s response might have held some truth, as Gambia, led by star player Yakuba Minteh, dominated the first 45 minutes. Minteh, who plays for Brighton & Hove Albion in the EPL, gave left-back Aboud Omar a difficult time, scoring the game’s second goal.
Gambia’s other goals came from Sheriff Sinyan, who plays in Romania, and Musa Barrow, who plays in Saudi Arabia's top division but was previously at Serie A’s Bologna. Kenya's consolation goal came in the 81st minute from striker Ryan Ogam, who continued his rich vein of form as he prepares to head to Austrian side Wolfsberger FC.
Another section of Kenyans, perhaps on a light note, highlighted the lack of a monetary incentive ahead of the game as a reason for the loss. This was in reference to President William Ruto's Ksh1 million promise to Harambee Stars for winning games at CHAN.
Another section called for patience and faith in McCarthy, remaining optimistic that progress gained during CHAN would not be in vain.
Kenya's World Cup Hopes
Even so, the loss leaves Kenya at fifth spot in Group 5, with six points from seven games and only a place ahead of bottom team Seychelles. It left Kenya completely out of contention for the 2026 World Cup, despite having three games left to play.
Kenya's next and last home game will be against bottom team Seychelles, who have no points from the seven games played. The game will be played at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani on Tuesday, September 9, at 4pm. Afterwards, Kenya will play third-placed Burundi on Monday, October 6, and end its World Cup qualification journey with top-placed Ivory Coast a week later.
