Benni McCarthy’s debut as Kenya’s head coach ended in a captivating 3-3 draw against Gambia during a World Cup qualifier. Gambia initially led by two goals, but Kenya equalized late with a goal from William Wilson. In other matches, Gabon leads Group F, while Benin remains top of Group C despite a draw against Zimbabwe. Mozambique also excelled in Group G with a win over Uganda.
Benni McCarthy, the former assistant coach at Manchester United, commenced his tenure as the head coach of Kenya with a thrilling 3-3 draw against Gambia in a World Cup qualifier. The initial half was uneventful, highlighted only by Gambia’s Musa Barrow missing a penalty. However, the match became intensely exciting after halftime, with Gambia initially taking a two-goal lead.
Although Gambia was ahead by two goals, Kenya managed to equalize through William Wilson’s late goal after a defensive blunder by Gambia. Barrow redeemed himself by scoring twice for Gambia, while Yankuba Minteh also contributed to their tally. For Kenya, Michael Olunga converted a penalty, and substitute Mohammed Bajaber also scored at the National Stadium in Abidjan.
McCarthy aims to lead Kenya to their inaugural World Cup appearance and stated before the match that he believed Kenya could “surprise a lot of people” in the qualifiers. In another significant encounter, Gabon emerged victorious against Seychelles with a 3-0 scoreline, placing them atop Group F with 12 points, ahead of their upcoming match against Kenya.
In Group C, Benin maintained their lead despite a 2-2 draw against Zimbabwe, having squandered a two-goal advantage. Steve Mounie and Dokou Dodo initially put Benin ahead, but Zimbabwe fought back with goals from Marshall Munetsi and Knowledge Musona. The group remains competitive, with Benin holding eight points, while Rwanda and South Africa each possess seven points.
In a surprising twist, Rwanda managed to defeat South Africa, while Nigeria, with new management under Ivorian Eric Chelle, has encountered challenges, including drawing against Lesotho and losing to Benin. Nigeria faces a crucial match against Rwanda. Additionally, former Inter Milan player Mohamed Kallon enjoyed a successful debut as Sierra Leone’s head coach with a 3-1 win against Guinea-Bissau, placing them second in Group A.
Mozambique topped Group G following a 3-1 victory against Uganda, with Pedro ‘Pepo’ Santos scoring twice. The match was notably difficult for Uganda’s goalkeeper, Ismail Watenga, who made critical errors leading to goals. It is worth noting that Gambia, Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone, and Mozambique had to play at neutral venues due to a lack of FIFA-approved stadiums in their home countries.
In summary, Benni McCarthy’s first match as Kenya’s head coach ended in a dramatic draw with Gambia, marking the beginning of his journey in the World Cup qualifiers. Other teams, including Gabon and Benin, demonstrated strong performances in their respective groups, adding to the competitiveness of the qualification process for the 2026 World Cup. The results highlight the unpredictability of African football as teams vie for a spot at the prestigious tournament.
Original Source: newscentral.africa
