Kenya coach Benni McCarthy says Harambee Stars will improve

Kenya national team coach Benni McCarthy has assured fans that his side will improve, urging the nation not to despair after their strong turnout on Sunday afternoon.

Harambee Stars played their sixth Fifa World Cup 2026 qualifier against Gabon at home two days ago, but unfortunately lost 2-1. The result was a setback in their qualifying campaign, as they remain fourth in Group F with just six points, seven behind log leaders Gabon.

The defeat came in McCarthy’s second match in charge of the Harambee Stars, having drawn in his first game away to Gambia. McCarthy lamented that he had limited preparation time, as the Europe-based players only arrived on Tuesday, just two days before their Thursday fixture.

He also stated that he had to rely heavily on makeshift players  – those who had not started against Gambia – to form the core of the team against Gabon.

Despite the loss, Harambee Stars put up a brave fight to come back from 2-0 down and secure a 3-3 draw against Gambia. Upon their return, they received a rousing welcome at Kenyan International Airport on Friday morning.

Kenyan supporters took their enthusiasm to the next level on Sunday, filling up Nyayo National Stadium for the team’s first home clash since Fifa recently approved the venue. McCarthy expressed his gratitude to the fans, vowing that the team will work hard to bring smiles back to their faces once they gel together.

"The team has shown great togetherness in a short space of time," said McCarthy, after the Gabon defeat.

"There’s only so much you can change, but you’re never going to achieve what you really want in just one week with the team. So it was difficult ...

"Unfortunately, we couldn’t give the fans the joy of a win. But what we can promise is that we will improve, and soon, they’ll have a team they can be very proud of."

Even in victory, Gabon remained humble, with head coach Thierry Mouyouma admitting that he had not expected the result, nor the incredible atmosphere.

"We came prepared for this kind of game, and our plan was that if we couldn’t win, we would at least aim for a draw," Mouyouma explained.

"Fortunately for us, we got the win because, as you know, World Cup qualifiers are tough. This was also the first time we played in a stadium like this since the campaign began."

He acknowledged the challenges other teams face, pointing out that Burundi plays its home matches in Tanzania, while other nations also struggle to host games.

"We hadn’t played in a fully packed stadium before, so we are grateful to the Kenyan fans. They supported their team passionately but also showed us a lot of respect, which was very important for us."

While Gabon’s victory was crucial for their World Cup ambitions, McCarthy insists that Kenya is not giving up until they are mathematically out of the running.

With four games remaining – offering a total of 12 points – McCarthy firmly believes that Harambee Stars still have a chance to fight for redemption and book a place at football’s biggest event.