Benni McCarthy’s debut as head coach of Kenya resulted in a 3-3 draw against Gambia during a World Cup qualifier. Gambia initially led but Kenya equalized late. Gabon leads Group F, while Benin tops Group C despite a draw. New head coaches found success in Sierra Leone and Mozambique, emphasizing competitive dynamics across the qualifiers.
Benni McCarthy, the former assistant coach at Manchester United, made his debut as head coach for Kenya with an exciting 3-3 draw against Gambia in a World Cup qualifier. The first half saw a slow start with Gambia’s Musa Barrow missing a penalty. However, the pace of the match quickened after halftime with Gambia initially leading by two goals before Kenya salvaged a draw late in stoppage time thanks to William Wilson’s critical goal.
Musa Barrow redeemed his earlier penalty miss by scoring twice for Gambia, while Yankuba Minteh contributed the third goal. For Kenya, Michael Olunga converted a penalty, and substitute Mohammed Bajaber scored as well at the National Stadium in Abidjan. McCarthy, who aims to lead Kenya to their first-ever World Cup, expressed his pre-match confidence that his team could potentially “surprise a lot of people” in the qualifiers.
In other Group F matches, Gabon secured a convincing 3-0 victory over Seychelles, placing them at the top of the group with 12 points. They will soon face Kenya in Nairobi. The Ivory Coast, the reigning African champions, is positioned second with 10 points and will compete against Burundi next. Only group winners are assured a spot in the 2026 World Cup, set to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
In Group C, Benin ascended to the top despite a 2-2 draw against Zimbabwe, where they squandered a two-goal lead. Benin’s Steve Mounie and Dokou Dodo scored early, but Zimbabwe’s Marshall Munetsi and Knowledge Musona equalized. The group remains tightly competitive with Benin leading on eight points, closely followed by Rwanda and South Africa, both at seven points. Nigeria, now managed by Ivorian Eric Chelle, faces Rwanda in a must-win match after a disappointing campaign.
In additional developments, Mohamed Kallon, the former Inter Milan and Monaco midfielder, celebrated his debut as Sierra Leone’s head coach with a 3-1 victory over Guinea-Bissau. Mustapha Bundu was the standout player, securing the opening goal. Sierra Leone currently sits second in Group A, only two points behind leaders Egypt. Mozambique also climbed to the top of Group G, defeating Uganda 3-1, with Pedro ‘Pepo’ Santos scoring twice. Unfortunately, Uganda’s goalkeeper Ismail Watenga had a difficult evening, leading to his substitution.
Benni McCarthy’s inaugural match as Kenya’s head coach ended in a thrilling 3-3 draw against Gambia, showcasing the team’s potential in World Cup qualifiers. Meanwhile, Gabon leads Group F following a significant victory, while Benin remains at the top of Group C despite a drawn match. Sierra Leone and Mozambique also recorded commendable wins under new management. Overall, these results highlight the competitive nature of the ongoing qualification series.
Original Source: newscentral.africa
