What Benni McCarthy said after Aubameyang scored twice to hand him his first defeat as Kenya Coach
Bafana Bafana legend Benni McCarthy has promised to build a strong Harambee Stars team that Kenyans can be proud of, despite losing his first home game in charge.
McCarthy led Kenya for the second time since his appointment but faced Gabon in his first home match at the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi on Sunday. Unfortunately, Kenya lost 2-1 in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier, leaving their hopes of qualifying in serious doubt.
After the match, McCarthy admitted there is still a lot of work to be done but remained positive about the team’s future.
“Gabon had more togetherness as a team than we did,” McCarthy said in his post-match press conference. “I have only been here for a short time. There’s only so much you can change in one week, so it was difficult.”
McCarthy thanked the Kenyan fans for their support, describing the experience as unforgettable.
“Wow! This was the most memorable experience, even in my time as a player in Europe. This is what African football should be about—so much passion from the fans. Sadly, we couldn’t give them the win they deserved, but I promise we will improve,” he added.
The Harambee Stars are now nine points behind group leaders Gabon, with six points from six matches. They could fall further behind if second-placed Ivory Coast beat The Gambia on Monday.
Despite the setback, McCarthy is focused on building a competitive team. His long-term goal is to prepare Kenya for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which the country will co-host with Uganda and Tanzania.
“We wanted to win. But if we couldn’t, we aimed for at least a draw,” said McCarthy, who was officially unveiled as Kenya’s head coach on March 3.
