McCarthy Reveals What He Did to Avoid Kenya’s 10-0 Beating by Gambia

Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy has responded to critics following Kenya's 3-1 defeat to The Gambia in Friday evening’s World Cup qualifier clash.

While acknowledging the disappointment, McCarthy asserted that his team selection prevented a much more significant loss, estimating it could have been as high as 10-0 had he fielded a full CHAN (African Nations Championship) squad.

"If I had played Omijah and Sylvester and I played Bandi and Abud, we get 10." McCarthy stated, making it clear that his approach was driven by realism.

The Matchday Reality

The Harambee Stars found themselves 3-0 down by half-time against a formidable Gambian side.

McCarthy highlighted the stark difference in quality between the two teams, noting that "every outfield player and the bench that they have plays in Europe" for Gambia.

In contrast, Kenya's squad comprised "half that's local and half that's international," leading to a "difference in quality between the two".

ALSO READ: What Harambee Stars Captain Abud Omar Will Do With His KES 2.5 Million Reward

McCarthy pointed to "three costly mistakes" that led to Gambia's goals. The first goal came from a misplaced dribble out of the back, leading to a corner and then unmarshalled players scoring from a free header.

The coach described this as "childish defending". The second goal resulted from an intercepted pass while trying to play through the lines, leaving a Gambian player, who plays in "the best league in the world," one-on-one with the goalkeeper.

Strategic Squad Selection

Despite criticism, McCarthy defended his decision not to rely solely on local CHAN players. He emphasised the vast difference in standards: "Kenyan first league compared to Premier League and La Liga Bundesliga is two different worlds".

He explained that while he would have "loved to" play a full CHAN team, he feared the public backlash and potential job loss if the team suffered a massive defeat.

"You want me to lose 5-10? Then I have to answer and people say Benni out because people like you want me to take risk and play Chan players. Come on man this is international level."

McCarthy believes it was a "learning experience for our boys today". He highlighted how players got to see "how physical and how fast and how quick the game is" at an international level, where "one mistake you get punished for it".

Second-Half Fight and Future Outlook

The coach praised his team's resilience in the second half. Substitutes Alfa and Mansour, who had played in CHAN, were introduced and brought "a little bit more energy and more fight".

The team "kept fighting" and was the "better side second half," though they couldn't convert their chances to close the gap further. Youngsters like Sylvester, Bryan Omondi (goalkeeper), and Mansour gained valuable international experience.

McCarthy noted that Kenya's chances of qualifying for the World Cup were already "pretty slim".

However, he is focused on building for the future, integrating European-based players with local talent to create a Kenyan team capable of competing at the international level.

Looking ahead, Kenya is scheduled to play their next match on Tuesday against Seychelles, as they continue their development path.