Six lessons from Harambee Stars World Cup qualifier loss to Gambia
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Reading Time: 3min | Mon. 08.09.25. | 08:42
Foreign-based players were called out for their half-hearted performances and inability to match the energy their Gambian counterparts brought at Kasarani
There were plenty of lessons in Harambee Stars' 3-1 loss to The Gambia on Friday last week.
First-half goals from Sheriff Sinyan, English Premier League (EPL) star Yankubah Minteh, and Musa Barrow’s strike ended Kenya's hopes for a slot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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Kenya's much-improved performance in the second half was capped by Ryan Ogam's 81st-minute strike, a goal that ultimately turned out to be nothing more than a consolation goal.
Kenyans did not shy away from expressing their disappointment during and after the game.
Far from the anger, lessons and observations were made from the game, which was staged at Kasarani Stadium.
Difference in quality
There was a big difference in quality between The Gambia squad and that of the Harambee Stars, the former having an edge over the latter.
Gambia has players plying their trade in some of the best leagues in the world, including the EPL and the Saudi Pro League, which is not the case with Kenya.
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Kenya's tormentor in chief on Friday was Minteh, who turns out for Brighton & Hove Albion in the EPL.
Minteh was a thorn in Kenya's flesh and capped it with a goal and an assist. How he eased past the Kenyan defense and affected the game was a testament to his level of play.
Both Kenyan coach Benni McCarthy and his Gambian counterpart Jonathan McKinstry attributed the result to the quality of the players on both sides.
McKinstry's tactical prowess
From his time in the FKF Premier League with Gor Mahia, McKinstry was known for his tactical ability, fluidity, adaptability, and study of the opponent's strengths and weaknesses.
Despite Kenya's lion's share of possession, The Gambia looked more dangerous, often hitting Kenya on the counterattack and on quick transitions.
McKinstry's knowledge of Kenyan players helped prepare the team to extinguish Kenya's threats.
International players must improve
Kenya's foreign-based players faced heavy criticism for their poor match performance. Friday's match was not an isolated case, as fans have noticed half-hearted performances from them before.
While the criticism is sometimes unjustified or too heavy, Kenyans generally expect to see a difference in performance from their local counterparts.
Against The Gambia, they were simply below their best.
Passion from local players
Once again local-based players justified their inclusion in the team by showing great passion, character, and fighting spirit.
Kenyans have been calling for the use of more locally based players.
In fact, Kenya's first-half midfield, which consisted of European-based players Timothy Ouma and Richard Odada, performed dismally and had to be replaced by the local duo of Alpha Onyango and Manzur Okwaro.
Ryan Ogam, a local player who signed for a European club a few days ago, scored Kenya's only goal.
Late substitutions did not help
From the moment Kenyans noticed problems with the team and blunders from some players, fans petitioned the technical bench to make changes.
The chants for substitutions became even more clearer after the second goal, forcing McCarthy to ask Onyango and Marvin Nabwire to warm up.
However, he did not introduce them or make any changes, and Kenya conceded a third goal ahead of halftime.
When changes were made at halftime, Kenya looked more lively and purposeful, which shows that with early changes, the result might have been different.
Time for Manzur to move to midfield?
The transformation of Kenyan youngster Manzur Okwaro from a defender to a midfielder happened during CHAN and was one of McCarthy's weapons in the tournament.
The 19-year-old was once again deployed as a midfielder in a higher-profile match and did not put a foot wrong.
His energy and control of the game excited fans and pundits in equal measure.
It remains to be seen whether he will make a full transition to miefield.
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