Benni McCarthy handed heaviest defeat in Kenya as World Cup dream ends

Bafana Bafana legend Benni McCarthy was handed his biggest loss as Kenya coach when his side suffered a 3-1 defeat to The Gambia in a World Cup qualifier.

With Kenya’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup next to impossible, Harambee Stars needed to win to keep their slim hopes alive, but that dream was ended in the first 38 minutes of the contest.

The Gambia were 3-0 up before the end of the first half as McCarthy’s decision to tinker with the team that impressed at CHAN 2024, where they reached the quarter-final, was heavily punished.

McCarthy’s gameplan fell apart

McCarthy handed starts to only three of the CHAN 2024 stars with eight foreign-based players making the starting XI, and they struggled with the pace and intelligence of The Gambia, who had wingers Musa Barrow and Yankuba Minteh causing havoc.

Sheriff Sinyan headed in from a free header to open the scoring after 12 minutes following Minteh’s corner and a defensive mistake from McCarthy’s men allowed The Gambia to score the second, slotted home by the Brighton and Hove Albion winger, after a good pass from Burrow.

That was in the 26^th minute and the third arrived 12 minutes later when another turnover in possession from Kenya saw Adama Sidibeh set up Burrow to score effortlessly.

What next for Harambee Stars?

In the second half, McCarthy made a couple of changes in midfield which steadied Kenya’s ship but the damage was long done although another late substitute Ryan Ogam scored the consolation for Harambee Stars nine minutes from time.

Harambee Stars are now officially out of the running for a World Cup place as they have six points from seven games with Gabon leading with 18 and Ivory Coast second on 16 but with a game in hand.

McCarthy has now won four games and drawn as many while suffering two losses but this is the biggest losing margin since suffering a 2-1 defeat to Gabon in March.