Benni McCarthy’s Debut: Kenya Draws 3-3 with Gambia in World Cup Qualifier
Benni McCarthy debuted as head coach of Kenya, resulting in a dramatic 3-3 draw against Gambia in a World Cup qualifier. Gambia initially led twice but were equalized by Kenya’s William Wilson in stoppage time. Gabon leads Group F, while Benin remains at the top of Group C despite a draw. Other notable performances included Sierra Leone’s win over Guinea-Bissau and Mozambique’s success against Uganda.
Benni McCarthy’s inaugural match as head coach of Kenya concluded in a thrilling 3-3 draw against Gambia during a World Cup qualifier. The first half was uneventful, marked only by Gambia’s Musa Barrow missing a penalty. However, the second half saw Gambia initially take a two-goal lead, then later a one-goal lead, before Kenya’s William Wilson equalized dramatically in stoppage time, capitalizing on a defensive error.
Barrow redeemed himself in the match by scoring twice, with Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh also contributing to Gambia’s score. For Kenya, Michael Olunga netted a penalty, and substitute Mohammed Bajaber also added to the tally at the National Stadium in Abidjan. McCarthy, aiming to lead Kenya to their first World Cup appearance, expressed optimism about his team’s potential to “surprise a lot of people” during the qualifiers.
In Group F, Gabon triumphed over Seychelles with a 3-0 victory and leads the group with 12 points as they prepare to face Kenya next. Ivory Coast, the defending African champions, is in second place with 10 points, gearing up for a match against Burundi. It is crucial for teams to secure their group positions, as only group winners will qualify for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Benin remains atop Group C, despite a 2-2 draw against Zimbabwe where they squandered a two-goal lead. Goals from Steve Mounie and Dokou Dodo gave Benin the advantage, but Marshall Munetsi and Knowledge Musona responded for Zimbabwe to level the match. The group is highly competitive, with Benin currently leading on eight points, while both Rwanda and South Africa trail closely with seven points each.
In a surprising development, Rwanda registered a win against South Africa, while Nigeria continues to struggle in the qualifiers under new coach Eric Chelle, having already drawn and lost key matches. Nigeria is set to face Rwanda in a critical encounter on Friday.
In other notable results, Mohamed Kallon debuted successfully as Sierra Leone’s head coach, securing a 3-1 victory over Guinea-Bissau, placing his team in second in Group A behind leaders Egypt. Meanwhile, Mozambique ascended to the top of Group G with a 3-1 win over Uganda, aided by Pedro ‘Pepo’ Santos’ double. Uganda’s goalkeeper Ismail Watenga faced significant challenges during the match, leading to his substitution at halftime.
Most of the matches took place at neutral venues, as several countries, including Gambia, Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone, and Mozambique, lack FIFA-approved stadiums for their home games.
The World Cup qualifiers showcase competitive and thrilling matches across Africa, with notable performances from teams like Kenya, Gabon, and Benin. McCarthy’s coaching debut for Kenya ends in an exciting draw against Gambia, while Gabon leads their group confidently. Amidst fierce competition in various groups, teams such as Benin and Sierra Leone also display commendable performances, setting the stage for crucial upcoming matches as they pursue qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
Original Source: newscentral.africa
