Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy registered his first win since taking charge of the national team after Kenya beat Chad 2-1 in an international friendly match held Tuesday at the Marrakech Stadium in Morocco.
Coming off a goalless draw in their first-ever meeting last Saturday, McCarthy had publicly expressed his dissatisfaction with Kenya’s performance. The South African made wholesale changes to the starting lineup for the rematch, and the response was immediate.
Kenya delivered a dominant first-half performance, taking a 2-0 lead. FC Talanta’s Emmanuel Osoro opened the scoring in the 18th minute, slotting in confidently after latching onto a low cross from the right flank. Just before halftime, Osoro turned provider, laying off a precise ball for Bandari forward David Sakwa to bury home Kenya’s second goal.
Chad pulled one back after the hour mark, exposing a lapse in the Harambee Stars’ defense. Ali Mahamat Adam capitalized on a long ball from Youssouf Ahmat to score, sparking a more competitive second half. Despite several missed chances, Kenya held on to claim the win.
Osoro’s performance was a particular highlight. The striker, currently second in the FKF Premier League golden boot race with 16 goals—just one behind leader Moses Shumah—seems to have seamlessly transitioned his club form to the national stage.
McCarthy made notable tactical shifts for Tuesday’s clash. Regular starters such as Shumah, Adam Wilson, Boniface Muchiri, Daniel Sakari, Aboud Omar, Brian Mandela, Brian Musa, Brian Bwire, and Alphonce Omija were all dropped. Only Alphonce Onyango and William Lekunpae retained their spots from Saturday’s match.
This result brings McCarthy’s record to one win, two draws, and one loss since his appointment on March 3. His earlier fixtures include a 3-3 draw away to Gambia and a 2-1 home loss to Gabon in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.
Ranked 111th in the world, Kenya dominated long stretches of the game against 177th-ranked Chad, showing more purpose and offensive sharpness. However, lapses in concentration allowed Chad to gain momentum late in the match, with the West Africans threatening through long balls and midfield pressure.
The friendlies in Morocco were used as part of Kenya’s preparations for the delayed 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), which will run from August 2 to 30. McCarthy’s squad selection leaned heavily on local players, giving them valuable exposure and testing squad depth ahead of upcoming competitive fixtures.
