Harambee Stars Player Ratings: A for Effort as Goal Eludes Benni McCarthy’s Charges in Turkey

Kenya’s Harambee Stars suffered a narrow 1–0 defeat to Equatorial Guinea in an international friendly played in Turkey, a match defined by missed chances and a debatable penalty decision that ultimately separated the sides. 

Despite dominating long stretches and creating several clear opportunities, Benni McCarthy’s men were punished for their inefficiency in front of goal.

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Here are the player ratings from the match:

Byrne Omondi started in goal, and did not really put a foot wrong despite diving the wrong way for the penalty by Equatorial Guinea.

He initiated a lot of attacks from the back and oozed calmness in his usual style.

Rooney Onyango displayed an energetic display bombing up and down the pitch, and was harshly adjudged to have committed a penalty, which looked way too soft on first look.

His final ball gave Equatorial Guinea a number of questions to answer, including one dangerous cutback into the box to Austin Odhiambo in the 84th minute which went just wide of the target.

Had a decent debut linking up with Boniface Muchiri down that left flank, and even nearly scored in the 27th minute. Despite Kenya’s loss, the Nairobi United man will surely feel satisfied about his performance.

Mike Kibwage did not have a lot of defending to do, but he did make one heroic clearance off the line shortly after the second half to underpin his excellent reading of the game. 

He did well before being subbed off for Alphonce Omija.

Sylvester Owino had a good game, especially in possession of the ball. He made a lot of line breaking passes and diagonals from the back that created a lot of dangerous attacking situations. 

He also did well in defensive situations, and will have felt hard-done by to miss out on the chance to successfully keep that clean sheet.

Looked ineffective playing in a deeper role for large parts of the game, and it is even a surprise he was able to last 90 minutes on the pitch.

Marvin Nabwire had a fine, if unspectacular, display in the middle of the park before being substituted off for Aldrine Kibet.

Boniface Muchiri was at the heart of every positive attack that Kenya constructed, using Jonah Ayunga as a good focal point to exchange neat one-twos in transitional situations.  He created a number of chances, and his movement was a thorn in the side for Equatorial Guinea.

Had arguably his most ineffective display in a Kenya shirt since his debut, and was rightly subbed off during the game.

The only attacker that threatened Equatorial Guinea throughout. Missed a couple of chances, but in general, his hold up play was a joy to behold, as he was a focal point upon which other attackers ran off.

Austin Odhiambo did not have a good display. Not only did he miss a big chance in the 84th minute, but his setpiece deliveries, which are otherwise normally very exquisite, were all over the place.

Stretched Equatorial guinea on one occasion with a testing run shortly after he came on, but apart from that, was nowhere to be seen.

Came on for his debut, but did not really have time to influence the outcome of the game.

Came on as a late sub, but was not on the pitch long enough to influence the outcome.

Kenya will rue their missed opportunities and the soft penalty that decided the match, but the performance offered positives—particularly in open play as Firat continues to fine-tune his squad ahead of competitive fixtures.