Harambee Stars will look to topple Cote d’Ivoire from the summit of Group ‘F’ when they resume their 2026 World Cup Qualifiers campaign this month, head coach Benni McCarthy has said.
The stakes are high, the path fraught with challenges and the road ahead appears daunting. Yet, the newly appointed gaffer reckons the spirit of hope and resilience will keep the Stars sparkling in the treacherous skies.
McCarthy emphasised the latent talent within his squad that boasts sufficient muscle to dare the African behemoths to a grueling battle.
With a modest five points, Kenya is currently in fourth place, behind Burundi (7 points), Gabon (9 points), and Cote d’Ivoire (10 points).
Despite the numerical disadvantage, McCarthy remains undeterred, his words resonating with a mix of realism and optimism as he acknowledges the uphill battle his charges face ahead.
“It’s going to be hard work, but I think the talent and the quality the team has speaks for itself. So it’s just a matter of time,” he asserted while rallying his players to embrace the challenge.
The Gambia match, a crucial battleground, will be the first step in this ambitious journey. “Our priority will be our match against Gambia.
Hopefully, we can get the team ready and go out there and fight,” he said. After the Gambia match, the Harambee Stars will turn their attention to Gabon on March 23.
“We shall next prepare for Gabon and then, hopefully, we shall be on the path to fulfilling our ultimate dream which is to catch Cote d’Ivoire at number one.”
“We shall give Kenyans a hardworking team, fighting and trying to play good football. But most importantly, we shall deliver a team that wants to win,” he assured.
McCarthy said he encountered a blend of excitement and anxiety from the players in his inaugural training session at the Ulinzi Sports Complex on Wednesday.
Yet, he expresses satisfaction with their adaptability and resilience, noting that the players quickly embraced his coaching style and the rigours of the training regimen.
“I thought they did very well for the first day. I mean, they acquitted themselves very well, adapted to what I wanted as well. So that was nice to see, and there’s some decent, good quality in there, which surprised me. But it’s always a benefit for the country and the team,” he added.
His astute observations revealed a promising depth of talent that may well be the key to unlocking Kenya’s potential.
“It was a good experience
for some of the young players that
we’ve called up. And just to showcase
what they have, and it was also nice
for me to get to know them a little bit
better and for them to get to know
how I like to work,” McCarthy stated.
