Photo Credit - Football Kenya Federation.
Kenya national team Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy has admitted his first focus with the team his to have a good outing against Gambia in their matchday five fixture of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
The East African nation will lock horns against the Scorpions of Gambia on Thursday, March 20 at the Stade Alasane Ouattara in Ivory Coast before returning home for their matchday six fixture against the Panthers of Gabon on Sunday, March 23 at Nyayo Stadium.
The 47-year-old South African coach has already started training the team having named a provisional squad for the two matches on Tuesday. According to McCarthy, his immediate task is to ensure that Kenya get a positive result from the away game against Gambia to boost their confidence in readiness to face Gabon.
“Our first priority is the Gambia game, Gambia match on March 20 for the World Cup qualification,” said McCarthy. “That is our first priority, so, hopefully, we can get a team ready and to go out there and fight and bring proud to the Kenyan nation.
“If we manage a good result against Gambia, we can build on from there to Gabon and then hopefully we’re on a good path, and on a good way to fulfil the ultimate dream and that’s you know salvage the group stages and hopefully that you can catch Ivory Coast at number one.”
McCarthy continued: “We going to work extremely hard to get this team ready and right (for the two matches), so that the players can be proud when they put on the Kenyan shirt. I think we are going to build a team that is hard working, that’s fighting, that’s trying to play good football but most importantly, we want to give (Kenyans), a team that wants to win matches.”
While Kenya is yet to play against Gambia in the qualifiers, they will be seeking revenge against Gabon, who beat them 2-1 in the first leg. After the defeat, they recovered to beat Seychelles 5-0 before drawing 1-1 against Burundi and 0-0 against African champions Ivory Coast.
The Elephants are currently leading Group F with 10 points, while Kenya is lying fourth with five points. Gabon are second on nine points and Burundi third on seven points.
Comments