Kenya’s Harambee Stars Draw with Gambia in Thrilling Qualifier Match

Kenya’s Harambee Stars achieved a dramatic 3-3 draw with Gambia in the CAF World Cup Qualifiers, thanks to debut goals from Mohammed Bajaber and William Lenkupae. The match featured thrilling moments, including a saved penalty and a late equalizer. Kenya will host Gabon at Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday after this eventful encounter.

On Thursday night in Abidjan, the Kenyan national football team, Harambee Stars, played to a thrilling 3-3 draw against Gambia in the CAF World Cup Qualifiers, showcasing the talents of debutants Mohammed Bajaber and William Lenkupae. This match also marked the inaugural game for head coach Benny McCarthy. Following this encounter, Kenya is set to host Gabon at the Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday, which will be their first home game in over two years.

The match began with Kenya asserting themselves as the more dominant side, creating early scoring opportunities. Richard Odada almost opened the scoring in the 5th minute, though his shot went over the bar. Subsequently, in the 10th minute, Michael Olunga’s header missed its target after receiving a well-placed cross from Roonie Onyango.

Despite sustaining pressure, a miscalculation by Kenya’s goalkeeper Ian Otieno almost proved costly in the 28th minute, resulting in a penalty for Gambia. However, Otieno redeemed himself by saving the penalty kick, maintaining a score of 0-0. Just before halftime, the Kenyan defense, led by Eric Ouma, successfully thwarted Gambia’s attempts to score, keeping the match level at the break.

At halftime, Coach McCarthy introduced William Lenkupae into the attack, aiming to inject new energy into the game. Gambia responded aggressively in the second half, with Musa Barrow scoring the opening goal in the 54th minute with a magnificent strike outside the box. Just five minutes later, Yankuba Minteh increased Gambia’s lead to 2-0, finishing adeptly after a well-delivered cross.

In response, McCarthy made several substitutions to strengthen the attack. His decision paid off in the 67th minute when Olunga converted a penalty kick awarded after Jonah Ayunga was fouled. Soon thereafter, Mohammed Bajaber scored to equalize at 2-2, demonstrating the effectiveness of the Kenyan substitutions.

As Gambia regained momentum, Barrow scored once again in the 83rd minute, putting Gambia ahead 3-2. However, the game took another twist in the closing moments when debutant William Lenkupae scored a dramatic equalizer deep into stoppage time, equalizing the match at 3-3 and ensuring a valuable point for Kenya.

Currently, Kenya has accumulated 6 points from 4 matches, while Gabon leads with 12 points, followed by Burundi with 7, Gambia with 4, and Ivory Coast with 10. The Group’s final match will see Ivory Coast face Burundi on Friday.

In summary, the match between Kenya and Gambia exemplified the resilience and potential of the Kenyan national team, highlighted by the notable performances of debutants Mohammed Bajaber and William Lenkupae. With a challenging upcoming match against Gabon, the Harambee Stars demonstrated their ability to come back from behind, boosting their morale and points tally in the World Cup Qualifiers.

Original Source: www.michezoafrika.com