Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy is still waiting for his first win since taking charge after Kenya was held to a goalless draw by Chad in an international friendly in Marrakech, Morocco. Despite dominating possession and creating numerous chances, Kenya’s inability to convert opportunities proved costly. Here are five key takeaways from the match:
1. Wastefulness in Front of Goal Continues to Haunt Harambee Stars
For the umpteenth time, Harambee Stars showed an inability to capitalize on the multiple chances they created throughout the match. The first half saw the team squander several good opportunities, and the second half was no different.
William Lenkupae was particularly guilty of missing clear-cut chances. In the first half, after a perfectly timed pass from Boniface Muchiri, Lenkupae was unable to finish. Later, in the second half, he missed another opportunity following a quick release by Austin Odhiambo during a transitional phase. Moses Shumah also had opportunities but failed to find the net. Ultimately, the inability to convert chances meant Kenya had to settle for a frustrating goalless draw.
2. Austin Odhiambo Brings a New Dimension to the Attack
Austin Odhiambo, introduced at halftime, immediately became the team’s creative engine during his 45 minutes on the pitch. He carried the ball with urgency and intelligence, frequently finding pockets of space between Chad’s defensive lines. His progressive passes injected fresh attacking intent into the Harambee Stars’ play.
However, there were moments when his teammates could not match his intensity and vision. Moses Shumah, for example, struggled to connect with Odhiambo in quick one-twos on a few occasions. Despite this, Odhiambo’s creative spark gives promise for Kenya as they prepare for the CHAN qualifiers, showing signs of evolving into a more dynamic and unpredictable attacking unit.
3. William Lenkupae’s Late Runs Show Goal Threat Potential
Starting in a central attacking midfield role behind striker Moses Shumah, William Lenkupae demonstrated the kind of goal threat coach McCarthy is looking for from midfield. Deployed as a number 10, Lenkupae made late runs from deep, a movement that created dangerous goal-scoring opportunities.
Two clear chances came his way one a neat assist from Boniface Muchiri and another a lofted through ball from Austin Odhiambo. Though he failed to convert these chances, Lenkupae’s pace and movement into goal-scoring positions were encouraging signs. With improvement in finishing and passing accuracy, he could become a crucial attacking outlet for Kenya.
4. Set Piece Execution Remains a Weakness
Set pieces have often been a source of goals in football, but Harambee Stars failed to capitalize on two promising set-piece opportunities during the game.
The first opportunity arose when Abud Omar quickly released the ball to Boniface Muchiri from around 22 yards, intending to catch the Chad defense off guard. However, Muchiri ran into heavy traffic, and the chance fizzled out. Later, Austin Odhiambo delivered a quick pass to Daniel Sakari for a cross into the box, but Sakari’s delivery was wayward, missing the target completely.
While the ideas behind these set-piece plays were clever, poor execution undermined their effectiveness. Improving precision and decision-making in these scenarios will be vital for Kenya in tight matches where dead-ball situations can make a difference.
5. Alpha Onyango Makes a Solid Debut, Showing Composure and Defensive Awareness
Alpha Onyango earned his first senior cap and made an encouraging impression. Although he struggled with some early missteps and occasional positional overlaps with Brian Musa, Onyango steadily grew into the game. In the second half, playing as a lone defensive midfielder, he received the ball confidently from deep and was adept at distributing progressive passes.
Defensively, Onyango provided stability, shielding the backline effectively and helping to control the tempo. His composure and presence in midfield will be important as the team looks to build a balanced and resilient core.
Despite the goalless result feeling like a missed opportunity, there are promising signs for Harambee Stars. Austin Odhiambo’s creativity, Alpha Onyango’s calm presence, and William Lenkupae’s attacking movement highlight the potential within the squad. Coach McCarthy now has a clearer picture of his team’s strengths and weaknesses as he prepares Kenya for the upcoming CHAN qualifiers and beyond. With improved finishing and sharper set-piece execution, Harambee Stars can look forward to becoming a more competitive side on the continental stage.
