The importance of Olunga and 4 other lessons from Harambee Stars defeat to Senegal
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Reading Time: 4min | Thu. 20.11.25. | 09:11
The defeat to Senegal as well as the recent defeat to Ivory Coast in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers helps in providing a reality check for proper planning
The Kenyan national team, Harambee Stars, suffered a humiliating 8-0 loss to the Lions of Teranga from Senegal, a result that provided many lessons for the country.
The Tuesday 18 November match was part of the two friendly matches organized for Kenya in the November international break.
Thee Benni McCarthy-coached side lost to Equatorial Guinea by a solitary goal in the opening game.
The defeat was Kenya’s heaviest since the 9-0 loss inflicted by Zambia in 1978, 47 years ago.
Even as Kenyans continue to express mixed reactions to the result, Mozzart Sport has analyzed six key lessons that can be learned from the match.
Kenya still need Olunga
Harambee Stars captain Michael Olunga has always been on the receiving end of the wrath of Kenyans whenever the team loses or he misses a chance.
What started as criticism grew and bordered on hate with the former Gor Mahia star even describing it as cyber bullying.
The Al-Arabi star was one of the big names that missed in McCarthy's squad for the two matches due to a tight schedule with his Qatar side.
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Olunga’s absence offered Kenyans the perfect opportunity to assess his importance in the team.
Ryan Ogam was uninspiring against Equatorial Guinea and was benched against Senegal.
His replacement Jonah Ayunga was rarely seen in the first half when Senegal were on a rampage and when Ogam finally came on at half time, he had less than 10 touches on the ball for the entire half and made the wrong runs when Kenya had the rare opportunities on the break.
While Kenyans are right to demand a lot from Olunga, they must also recognize that he is the best in the country currently and is needed in the national team for a little longer
Big difference in class
The match clearly showcased the big difference in football class between Senegal and Kenya.
The West African side outclassed Kenya in all aspects of the game; from physical to individual brilliance, from tactical to psychological and any aspect that was there in the game.
The match showed exactly why Senegal are Africa’s second highest ranked team and regulars in the World Cup while Kenya struggles to even qualify to the Africa Cup of Nations
Football Structures is key
Senegal have better and established youth structures that have helped them produce and nurture top talents over the years including the Diambars and Generation Foot academies which combine football and formal education.
The country also has established national youth leagues including the U15, U17 and U20 that run across all regions and are supported by FIFA Forward unlike Kenya that does not have any development league.
Senegalese academies also have partnerships with European clubs that offer curriculum and pathways for their players to receive advanced training early on in their careers as compared to Kenya where there are seldom such partnerships.
The Senegalese Federation has also invested and tapped into Senegalese talents born and bred in Europe and received better development.
Kalidou Koulibaly, Edward Mendy, Ilay Camara and Ibrahim Mbaye are just some of the players, born and bred in Europe.
Quality Difference
The Tuesday night clash also exposed the big difference in quality between Senegalese and Kenyan players.
The Lions of Teranga toyed with Harambee Stars, giving them a footballing lesson and much of which can be traced to the difference in quality.
Senegal boasts of Sadio Mane and Mendy who have won the UEFA Champions League and several players playing at the top level.
In fact, only one player in Senegal’s starting 11 has not played in Europe’s top five leagues
Almost all Senegalese players play in top Leagues in the World while none of Kenyans play in Europe's top 5 leagues with three of the players on the bench plying their trade in the English Premier League (EPL).
On the other hand, none of the players in Kenya’s squad has ever played in Europe's top five leagues.
McCarthy’s poor set up
Even with the several factors favouring Senegal, McCarthy’s set up in the game left a lot to be desired.
In a match that he was certain Kenya will see less of the ball, the former Bafana Bafana striker played three attacking midfielders in Austin Odhiambo, William Lenkupae and Duke Abuya as well as two rookies; Baron Ochieng and Bryton Onyona in defense.
Against a star-studded Senegalese side, McCarthy's set up was always going to be punished severely.
Reality check
Once in a while, we need to play such big teams in the continental and the World to help us in knowing the reality of our football status.
Performances such as that in the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) and friendlies against Kenya’s peers more often than not block the vision.
The defeat to Senegal as well as the recent defeat to Ivory Coast in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers helps in providing a reality check for proper planning.
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