Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy has strongly defended his team selection following Kenya’s 3-1 defeat to Gambia in Nairobi, explaining why he opted against fielding most of the players who featured in the CHAN 2024 tournament.
Kenya endured a disastrous opening 40 minutes at Kasarani Stadium, conceding three quick goals to Sheriff Sinyan, Yankuba Minteh and Musa Barrow, before salvaging some pride with a second-half strike. The result sparked debate among fans, many questioning why the CHAN 2024 stars, who had impressed earlier in the year, were not given more opportunities.
Only a handful of local-based players, including goalkeeper Byrne Omondi and defenders Sylvester Owino and Abud Omar, were named in the starting lineup. The rest of the team was dominated by foreign-based professionals who appeared unsettled by Gambia’s pace and sharpness.
McCarthy, however, stood firm on his decision, stating that exposing inexperienced CHAN players to such high-level opposition could have led to an even heavier defeat.
“Lose 4-0, 5-0 and then people will say Benni out,” he explained after the match. “You want me to take risks and play CHAN players at this stage? This is international football, not local competition. If I had started Omija, Bandi, Sylvester and Abud, we get 10.”
The coach added that while CHAN 2024 provided valuable lessons, the gulf in class between domestic and international football remains huge. He believes the gradual introduction of local players into the squad is the right approach, pointing to the involvement of youngsters like Manzur Okwaro and Alpha Onyango as signs of progress.
“For now, it is about building a team for the future. We integrate the best of our European-based players with local talent, but we must be realistic. This is a process,” McCarthy noted.
Despite the disappointing result, Harambee Stars will have an immediate chance to bounce back when they host Seychelles in their next qualifier at Kasarani Stadium. McCarthy hopes the experience against Gambia, though painful, will serve as an important step in shaping a more competitive Kenyan side for upcoming international fixtures.
