Benni McCarthy’s debut as Kenya’s head coach ended in a thrilling 3-3 draw against Gambia in World Cup qualifying. Notable performances included goals from William Wilson, Michael Olunga, and a redemption for Musa Barrow. The match dynamics shifted significantly in the second half, reflecting Kenya’s potential to surprise in their campaign. Upcoming matches in various groups indicate rising tensions and competitiveness in the World Cup qualifiers.
The World Cup qualifying match witnessed an exciting debut for Benni McCarthy as Kenya’s head coach, following a thrilling 3-3 draw against Gambia in Johannesburg. The game saw a lackluster first half where Gambia’s Musa Barrow missed a penalty, yet it transformed with the late equalizer from William Wilson for Kenya, scoring in added time. Despite trailing by two goals and later one, Kenya managed to pull back to secure a draw. Barrow redeemed his earlier miss by scoring twice, contributing to Gambia’s score along with a goal from Yankuba Minteh.
Michael Olunga scored for Kenya via penalty, with substitute Mohammed Bajaber adding another as the match unfolded at the national stadium in Abidjan. Prior to the match, McCarthy expressed confidence in Kenya’s ability to potentially qualify for the World Cup, stating they could “surprise a lot of people.” Upcoming matches see Gabon leading the group with 12 points set to face Kenya in Nairobi, while reigning champions Ivory Coast, holding 10 points, prepare to clash with Burundi.
In Group C, Benin claimed the top position after their match against Zimbabwe ended in a 2-2 draw, which featured a late equalizing goal from Knowledge Musona. The standings show Benin at eight points, followed closely by Rwanda and South Africa with seven points each. Notably, this group has seen significant upsets, with Rwanda beating South Africa and Nigeria struggling with low points, facing a challenging match against Rwanda.
Sierra Leone also witnessed a successful coaching debut with Mohamed Kallon, who led his team to a 3-1 victory over Guinea-Bissau, granting them second place in Group A behind Egypt. Meanwhile, Mozambique took leadership in Group G, winning over Uganda 3-1 with standout performances from midfielder Pedro Santos. Both Gambia and Zimbabwe had their matches held at neutral venues due to the lack of FIFA-approved stadiums.
In conclusion, Benni McCarthy’s debut as Kenya’s coach culminated in a dramatic 3-3 draw against Gambia, showcasing the team’s potential to turn their World Cup qualifying campaign around. As various groups in the qualifiers witness unexpected results and significant upsets, the competition for securing World Cup spots intensifies. Key performances from players across different teams highlight the unpredictability and excitement of the ongoing qualifiers, setting the stage for potential surprises in upcoming fixtures.
Original Source: www.france24.com
