The Kenya national football team, Harambee Stars, are set to face Chad in the second leg of their international friendly double-header on June 10 at the Stade de Marrakech in Morocco.
The fixture follows a frustrating 0-0 draw on June 7, where Kenya dominated the game but failed to convert several chances. Head coach Benni McCarthy, who is still chasing his first win since taking charge in March, expressed disappointment with the team’s finishing.
“It’s our first match together — first match for most of these players — so you could see there’s still a bit of unfamiliarity,” McCarthy said after the game. “But when you dominate a match like this, you obviously have to be very disappointed that you didn’t win or score goals.”
Kenya created numerous opportunities, with forward William Lenkupae among those who missed clear-cut chances that could have sealed the victory. Despite Chad going a player down in the second half, the Harambee Stars failed to capitalize.
“They sat back very low, defended the middle of the pitch,” McCarthy explained. “We just weren’t patient enough. I think the biggest disappointment is the fact that we didn’t score. We had so many chances.”
This match marked McCarthy’s third game in charge. His debut saw Kenya draw 3-3 with Gambia, followed by a 2-1 loss to Gabon in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The former South African international, who previously coached AmaZulu and worked on Erik ten Hag’s staff at Manchester United, is now focused on turning promising displays into results.
“Some of our players still think we’re playing in the Kenyan league,” McCarthy said bluntly. “This is international level. You have to maintain the intensity, move the ball quicker. We just didn’t do that today and it cost us.”
Despite the draw, there were positives. Midfielders Alpha Onyango and Boniface Muchiri impressed with their energy, while Moses Shumah showed flashes of attacking promise. However, McCarthy insisted the team must now be more ruthless in front of goal.
“You don’t take your chances, you don’t score the goals you expect,” he added. “You end up drawing a game that you should win easily. That’s soul-destroying.”
McCarthy is expected to make a few tactical changes ahead of the return match on June 10, aiming to finally deliver that elusive first win and build momentum ahead of the CHAN qualifiers later this year, which Kenya will co-host.
“We just have to go back and work on it. Be a little more aggressive in front of goal, more clinical. That’s the learning curve.”
Where to Watch
Fans can stream the Kenya vs Chad match live via the FANZONE YouTube Channel, with access available to both local and international viewers.
