Benni McCarthy reflects on Harambee Stars costly defeat to Gabon

Benni McCarthy will habe to wait until June and August for his first win. Photo/FKF Media

Benni McCarthy reflects on Harambee Stars costly defeat to Gabon

Stephen Awino 05:20 - 24.03.2025

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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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.

"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.

"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.