Kenya’s national football team, Harambee Stars, drew 3-3 with Gambia in the CAF World Cup Qualifiers, with debuts by substitutes Mohammed Bajaber and William Lenkupae. The match featured significant moments, including a penalty save by Kenyan goalkeeper Ian Otieno and late equalizing goals by the debutants. Kenya will next host Gabon, marking their first home match in over two years.
On Thursday night, Kenya’s national football team, Harambee Stars, secured a thrilling 3-3 draw against Gambia during the CAF World Cup Qualifiers in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. The match was notable for the debuts of substitutes Mohammed Bajaber and William Lenkupae, as well as Benny McCarthy’s first game as head coach of the team.
Kenya began the match positively, with Richard Odada almost scoring in the 5th minute, narrowly missing the target. Captain Michael Olunga also had a chance to score early on, but his header went wide. Despite controlling the first half, a critical moment arose when goalkeeper Ian Otieno saved a penalty from Gambia after misjudging an initial rebound.
At halftime, Coach McCarthy substituted Ishmael Gonzalez for the Australian-based forward William Lenkupae to energize the attack. The second half saw Gambia take the lead when Musa Barrow scored in the 54th minute, followed by Yankuba Minteh’s goal that doubled their lead shortly after. In response, McCarthy made further adjustments, bringing on Bajaber to reinforce the offensive effort.
Kenya was awarded a penalty in the 67th minute, which Olunga successfully converted, bringing the score to 2-1. Substitute Bajaber equalized in the 75th minute, scoring to level the match. However, in a twist, Barrow restored Gambia’s lead in the 83rd minute. Yet, in dramatic fashion, Lenkupae scored an equalizer in the dying moments, perfectly placed to convert a loose ball from a throw-in, ending the match at 3-3.
Following this match, Kenya sits on 6 points after four games, while Gabon leads the group with 12 points. The standings also include Gambia with 4 points, Burundi with 7 points, and Ivory Coast with 10 points. Kenya is set to host Gabon at the Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday, which will be their first home match in over two years.
In conclusion, the match between Kenya and Gambia showcased the emergence of new talent, with Mohammed Bajaber and William Lenkupae making significant impacts in their debuts. Despite a challenging start, Kenya displayed resilience, coming back from a two-goal deficit to earn a draw. This performance sets the stage for their upcoming match against Gabon, marking a pivotal moment in their campaign.
Original Source: www.michezoafrika.com
