Kenya vs Gambia Player Ratings: Horror Show from Harambee Stars as Benni McCarthy's Gameplan Falls Apart

Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy paid a heavy price for taking risks in Kenya’s World Cup qualifier against The Gambia as they were beaten 3-1 at Kasarani Stadium on Friday.

Johnathan McKinstry’s men were 3-0 up after 38 minutes after taking advantage of Kenya’s defensive mistakes as well as their decision to play a high line with Musa Barrow and Yankuba Minteh a thorn in the flesh throughout the first half.

Sheriff Sinyan headed in Minteh’s corner before the Brighton and Hove Albion winger added the second while Barrow scored the third. Ryan Ogam grabbed one late for Kenya.

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Here is how Harambee Stars players performed.

The Harambee Stars goalkeeper could not do much to stop the three goals as they were all down to defensive mistakes but got down to keep out a couple of efforts from Minteh and Barrow, one from close range, after 10 minutes from a corner.

The Norway-based right-back did not have an impact as his tendency to go forward left acres of space for Musa Barrow to exploit and it was from that side that he got into a good area to set up the second goal before he scored the third.

The left-back only had a relief when Minteh was taken off as he had a hard time in the first half. Asked to play a little higher up, he left a lot of space behind which the Brighton man exploited while every time he went to defend against him, the Gambian forward got the better of him.

The young defender played at centre-back and had a torrid time throughout the contest. Sichenje struggled with the pace and movement of Barrow and Minteh and everything seemed beyond him in the first half before an improvement after the break.

He gave away the ball in an attempt to play from the back which was intercepted for Gambia’s second goal.

In a game that there were few positives, the Gor Mahia defender is among the few who came out with some credit but he will take collective responsibility for the first goal as the defenders allowed Sheriff Sinyan to get a free header while they struggled to keep out the Gambian attack for the other two goals.

Taken off at halftime, Odada was trusted to start even though he has not been playing at club level and the lack of sharpness told as when his midfield partners went forward, he could not handle the pace of the Gambians.

Odada was second best in every duel, lacked pace and was sloppy in possession, handing the victors easy opportunities.

Another midfielder who had a game to forget, Poland-based Timothy Ouma could not contain the Gambia attack as Johnathan McKinstry’s men won the midfield battle with ease.

His decision to roam forward left plenty of space behind with Odada struggling to cover the large areas and he was at fault for giving the ball away that led to the third goal.

He had a chance to tee up Olunga when he won the ball in midfield but opted to shoot and wasted the opportunity.

The Yanga midfielder was the one who had some positives in the Kenyan midfield as his forward passes found their targets but he could not help out defensively which contributed to the first half horror show.

The Zambia-based forward lasted 64 minutes and should have ended the game with at least an assist or even a goal after his delicious early cross was met by William Lenkupae who missed from close range on the half-turn.

Osoro then had a low shot that creeped just wide while he had a chance to score when Michael Olunga’s shot was palmed away by the Gambia goalkeeper but saw it saved.

William Lenkuape should have opened the scoring after four minutes when he received a good cross from Osoro but failed to find the target and in the second half, he got into good areas but failed to connect well with the ball.

Defensively, he made the job tough for Ronney Onyango when he did not track back while his decision-making in possession was wanting.

The Harambee Stars captain is the player who had the most attempts from Benni McCarthy’s team but did not make any of it count.

His 20th minute header drew a diving header from the Gambia goalkeeper while he had a ferocious shot punched out just before the visitors made it 3-0. Olunga had a late chance from a corner but failed to connect well.

The utility man was introduced at halftime after his surprise omission from the starting XI and he gave Kenya security in midfield as they looked better and not exposed like in the first half.

Okwaro’s job was damage limitation and he did it well although the visitors also took their foot off the pedal in the second half.

The Gor Mahia midfielder carried on from where he left off at CHAN 2024 when he lifted the levels following his introduction at the break.

Onyango was the midfielder who tried to get Kenya going, getting deep to get the ball and carrying it forward, while he also strung passes together before another late attempt nearly saw him score from distance.

The Austria-bound striker came on in the 64th minute for Osoro and troubled the Gambia with his movement in and around the box.

His tenacity and enterprising display saw him score Kenya’s consolation goal nine minutes from time in what was a message to McCarthy to perhaps start with him against Seychelles on Tuesday.

The Real Sociedad star made his Harambee Stars debut from the bench in the 72nd minute but he did not show much or change the complexion of the game.

Boniface Muchiri came on for Abuya with six minutes to go but he had little time to affect the game with only one good cross in injury time being a highlight.