Benni McCarthy debuted as Kenya’s coach in a dramatic 3-3 draw against Gambia, highlighting several key player performances. In other matches, Gabon and Benin/ Nigeria face stiff competition in their respective groups. The ongoing World Cup qualifiers see notable successes from Sierra Leone and Mozambique, though many games were held at neutral venues due to stadium unavailability.
Benni McCarthy’s tenure as Kenya’s head coach commenced with an exhilarating 3-3 draw against Gambia in a World Cup qualifier. The first half was uneventful, with Gambia missing a penalty opportunity. However, the second half witnessed a surge in action, with Gambia taking a two-goal lead before Kenya equalized deep into stoppage time thanks to William Wilson’s decisive goal.
Gambia’s Musa Barrow made a significant impact, scoring two goals after his earlier missed penalty. The match also featured goals from Yankuba Minteh of Brighton, alongside a penalty from Kenya’s Michael Olunga and a goal from substitute Mohammed Bajaber. McCarthy, aiming to lead Kenya to their inaugural World Cup, expressed optimism about his team’s potential.
In Group F, Gabon triumphed 3-0 over Seychelles, claiming the top position with 12 points. Ivory Coast’s reigning champions followed in second place with 10 points, preparing to face Burundi next. Only group winners will secure a spot in the 2026 World Cup hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Benin, although drawing 2-2 against Zimbabwe, retained the top spot in Group C. Benin initially led with goals from Steve Mounie and Dokou Dodo, but Zimbabwe’s Marshall Munetsi and Knowledge Musona equalized. The group remains competitive, with Benin on eight points, closely followed by Rwanda and South Africa with seven each. Nigeria, under new coach Eric Chelle, faces a critical must-win situation against Rwanda.
In other developments within Africa’s World Cup Qualifiers, Mohamed Kallon made a winning debut as Sierra Leone’s head coach, achieving a 3-1 victory over Guinea-Bissau. Mustapha Bundu opened the scoring, positioning Sierra Leone second in Group A, two points behind leaders Egypt. Mozambique topped Group G with a 3-1 win over Uganda, highlighted by Pedro Santos’ two goals.
The matches were played at neutral venues due to insufficient FIFA-approved stadiums in these countries, reflecting the ongoing issues in hosting international fixtures.
Benni McCarthy’s debut as Kenya’s head coach resulted in a thrilling 3-3 draw against Gambia, highlighting both teams’ abilities to score crucial goals. Meanwhile, Gabon leads Group F, while Benin tops Group C despite fierce competition. Sierra Leone and Mozambique also showed strong performances in the qualifiers. As teams vie for World Cup spots, the competitive landscape remains intense, with only group winners guaranteed advancement to the 2026 tournament.
Original Source: newscentral.africa
