Benni McCarthy’s inaugural match as Kenya’s head coach ended in a 3-3 draw against Gambia during a World Cup qualifier. Gambia initially led by two goals before Kenya equalized late in the game. Other notable results in the qualifiers include Gabon’s 3-0 win over Seychelles, and Benin drawing with Zimbabwe. Teams face intense competition as qualifiers progress, with only group leaders securing World Cup spots.
Benni McCarthy, the former Manchester United assistant coach, commenced his tenure as the head coach of Kenya with a thrilling 3-3 draw against Gambia in a World Cup qualifier. The first half unfolded slowly, highlighted by Gambia’s Musa Barrow missing a penalty. However, the match intensified in the second half, witnessing Gambia initially leading by two goals and then by one. William Wilson ultimately equalized for Kenya in stoppage time by converting a poorly cleared long throw into a goal.
Musa Barrow redeemed his earlier miss by netting two goals, supplemented by Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh also contributing to Gambia’s tally. For Kenya, Michael Olunga successfully converted a penalty, and substitute Mohammed Bajaber added another goal at the National Stadium in Abidjan. McCarthy has expressed his ambition to lead Kenya to their inaugural World Cup, stating that he believes the team could “surprise a lot of people” in the qualifiers.
In related developments, Gabon emerged victorious with a 3-0 win over Seychelles, maintaining the top spot in Group F with 12 points. They will face Kenya next in Nairobi. Ivory Coast, the reigning African champions, occupies the second position with 10 points as they prepare to play against Burundi. It is imperative to note that only the winners of each group will secure a place at the 2026 World Cup to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Benin currently leads Group C despite relinquishing a two-goal advantage in a 2-2 draw against Zimbabwe. Steve Mounie and Dokou Dodo initially placed Benin ahead, but Marshall Munetsi of Wolverhampton Wanderers pulled one back pre-halftime. Knowledge Musona equalized for Zimbabwe, leaving the group tightly contested, with Benin at eight points and Rwanda and South Africa closely following.
In an unexpected twist, Rwanda previously shocked South Africa, while Nigeria, a six-time World Cup qualifier, struggled in the qualifiers by drawing against Lesotho and losing to Benin. Nigeria faces Rwanda in a critical match on Friday under new management by Ivorian Eric Chelle.
Furthermore, in Africa’s World Cup qualifiers, Mohamed Kallon celebrated a successful debut as Sierra Leone’s head coach, guiding his team to a 3-1 victory over Guinea-Bissau. Mustapha Bundu, notable for his role in Plymouth’s FA Cup upset against Liverpool, was the scorer for Sierra Leone, positioning them second in Group A, behind Egypt by two points.
Mozambique defeated Uganda 3-1 in Cairo, spearheaded by a brace from Pedro ‘Pepo’ Santos of the Portuguese third division. Uganda’s goalkeeper Ismail Watenga experienced a challenging match, culminating in a substitution at halftime following his mistakes. Notably, Gambia, Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone, and Mozambique competed at neutral venues due to the lack of FIFA-approved stadiums in their respective home countries.
Benni McCarthy’s debut as head coach of Kenya resulted in an exciting 3-3 draw against Gambia, showcasing the team’s resilience as they fought back from a trailing position. The evolving nature of the World Cup qualifiers reflects intense competition in all groups, highlighted by the standings of Gabon, Benin, and Sierra Leone. Key matches await, particularly Nigeria’s immediate challenge against Rwanda, which could determine their qualification hopes. The continuing struggles with stadium approvals also underscore challenges facing several teams in the qualifiers.
Original Source: newscentral.africa
