What Coach Benni must address as Harambee Stars eye rebuild

 Kenya’s 2026 World Cup hopes suffered a setback after Harambee Stars fell 2-1 to Gabon at a packed Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday. The loss, coupled with a previous 3-3 draw against Gambia, exposed critical weaknesses that new head coach Benni McCarthy must address if Kenya is to build a competitive squad for the future.

One of the glaring concerns from both matches was Kenya’s inefficiency in front of goal. Despite boasting a prolific striker in Michael Olunga, who has been a consistent top scorer in the Qatari league, the team struggled to convert chances. Since the departure of Dennis ‘The Menance’ Oliech in 2016, Harambee Stars have lacked a clinical finisher, and McCarthy may scout emerging talents both in the FKF Premier League and abroad to fill this void.

McCarthy emphasized that building a strong unit takes time, but with upcoming fixtures, he will need to implement a structured playing philosophy that maximizes the potential of his squad.

His past experience as a striking coach at Manchester United highlights his tactical acumen, but he is expected to adapt his strategies to Kenya’s strengths.

The 47-year-old coach said he was disappointed by the loss but promised the team would get better and make Kenyans proud.

“Unfortunately, we couldn’t give the fans that joy or something to celebrate. But what we can promise is that we will improve, we will get better, and they will have a team they can be proud of," Benni McCarthy said.

Speaking after the game, McCarthy opened up on the one thing his team lacked against the Panthers and that is cohesion. He explained that he had only been with the team for a short period, and although there was a lot he wanted to change, it was difficult to achieve much in just one week.

"Gabon, as a team, had more togetherness. I’ve been here for a very short while, and there’s only so much you can try to change, but you’re never going to get everything exactly how you want it or the team to play a certain way in just one week. So, it was difficult.”

Kenya’s defence looked shaky in both matches, with costly mistakes leading to early goals. Goalkeeper Ian Otieno, the team’s number one, struggled with errors that proved costly. With competition available in Brian Bwire and rising Tusker FC goalkeeper Brian Opondo, McCarthy is expected to consider reshuffling his options between the sticks to add more stability.

Kenya’s midfield lacked balance, with Anthony Akumu struggling defensively and Richard Odada energetic but inconsistent in possession, the disconnect between midfield and attack limited creativity against Gabon. To improve, Benni McCarthy may integrate younger, more dynamic midfielders like Duke Abuya for creativity or Sven Yidah for defensive stability.

The current Harambee Stars squad has an average age of 26.2 years, meaning by 2032, many players will be past their prime. Encouragingly, McCarthy has already introduced young talents like William Lenkupae, Mohammed Bajaber, Timothy Ouma, and 18-year-old Manzur Suleiman.

Clubs like Kenya Police, Kariobangi Sharks, and KCB have been nurturing grassroots talent, and McCarthy is also expected to integrate these fresh faces to revitalize the squad.

With the next World Cup cycle in 2030, McCarthy has the opportunity to rebuild and refine his approach. His task is to blend experience with youth, solidify the defence, and create a more lethal attacking unit.

Kenyan football is at a turning point, and how McCarthy shapes the team in the coming months will determine the country’s football trajectory.