The 47-year-old South African legend took charge of his first game as Kenya coach in a Group F qualification fixture against Gambia in Ivory Coast on Thursday, March 20th. The thrilling matchday five fixture at Alassane Ouattara Ebimpé Olympic Stadium produced a six-goal thriller with Kenya coming twice from behind to snatch a draw.
After a goalless first half, the Scorpions raced into a 2-0 lead at the start of the second period courtesy of goals from Musa Barrow and Yankuba Minteh but Harambee Stars responded immediately when lead striker Michael Olunga scored from the penalty spot before substitute Mohammed Bajaber scored a stunning goal to make it 2-2.
However, Barrow scored late on for his brace to make it 3-2 for Gambia but another substitute William Wilson replied with a beautiful effort to salvage a crucial point for the East African nation.
In the other Group fixture on Thursday, Denis Bouanga scored a brace in both halves to help Gabon defeat Seychelles 3-0. Jim Allevinah opened the scoring in the third minute before Bouanga doubled the score at the half-hour mark and then sealed the victory in the 63rd minute.
Kenya's group wide open after Gambia draw
The victory saw the Panthers move top of the pile ahead of reigning champions Ivory Coast, who will be in action on Friday against Burundi. Despite the draw, McCarthy has refused to throw in the towel, insisting there are plenty of points up for grabs and nothing will stop him from chasing the qualification ticket.
“You will be a fool to give up (on qualification), and I think even the opposing coach will tell you exactly the same, his aspirations, his hopes still remain the same (to qualify), teams will drop points down the line. Gambia can beat Ivory Coast as much as Gambia can beat Gabon, as much as Kenya can beat Ivory Coast and Gabon,” said McCarthy after the game.
“So, the group is still very open, it is very open, the teams that are sitting at the top, yes, they have taken opportunities that they have, they have collected the points early, but we have five games to go, and plenty of points up on offer, for everyone, so we are hopefully, we are hopefully.”
Being his first game for Kenya, the former Manchester United assistant coach was asked his opinion of the game.
“Very stressed, not happy, now listen, for the new job it was very entertaining, a lot of goals because you don’t usually see that in a game of football in a World Cup qualifications, but I think the two teams pushed each other good,” explained McCarthy.
In the 30th minute, the Scorpions had a good chance to take the lead against the run of play when they were awarded a penalty following a foul on Musa Barrow. The 26-year-old, who turns out for Saudi Pro League club Al Taawoun, stepped up to take the resultant kick, but his weak right-footed effort was saved by Harambee Stars goalkeeper Ian Otieno.
Speaking on the penalty situation, McCarthy said: “First half, we sized each other, we had a very good opportunity with our captain Michael (Olunga), I think probably one of the easiest chances that he could ever get, but we couldn’t take our opportunity with a header and straight after that they (Gambia) got into the game.
“They got some good momentum and then they got awarded a penalty and, already there you thought they would go 1-0 up, and they control the game even better, but the goalkeeper made a great save.”
McCarthy continued: “I think going into the half-time break at 0-0 shared the reflection of the first half, both teams had an opportunity to probably get on the scoresheet but they didn’t so I think it was fair to get into half-time at 0-0.
“The second half was really bizarre, it was really crazy, I think and I am not sure whether it was the attitude, the weather, the heat got to us, they had a good passage of possession of the ball.
"We then made two clinical errors in our defence, and when you grant a team like Gambia that opportunity, with the players that they have, they are usually accurate in front of the goal, and they were 2-0 up and then you think it is over.”
The former Cape Town City and AmaZulu coach in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) further credited his substitutions for the comeback from 2-0 down to 2-2. After Gambia went 2-0 up, McCarthy sensed danger and immediately made a double substitution, John Avire and Eric Johanna coming out for Jonah Ayunga and youngster Bajaber, who was making his debut.
It was Ayunga who was fouled for the penalty which Olunga stepped up to convert from the spot before Bajaber scored a stunner to make it 2-2. McCarthy was, however, critical of the penalty awarded to Kenya terming it as "soft penalty" which could have irritated him had it been awarded against his team.
“I think I just changed things around and brought in some fresher legs because most of the players only arrived on Tuesday from Europe, so we had one day training session together, so we had to freshen up things a little bit,” offered McCarthy.
“We were given a penalty, which I think the position of the Gambia defender, who was behind when Jonah (Ayunga) was kind of cutting in front of him, but I am not sure if I say it was a soft penalty, but it it was given to them (against my team), I could have been furious.
“I can imagine how the opposing coach would feel about the penalty that was given but I think, it was actually… (laughs), happy to receive the penalty and then the captain stepped up and scored and then gave us a glimmer of hope.”
He continued: “We really started putting a couple of good chances, and passage playing together, we looked like the luckiest team that was going to get on the scoresheet next and then just a fantastic individual effort from Mohammed (Bajaber), young player that I have given an opportunity from out of nowhere, took the goal exceptionally well and then we went 2-2 up.”
McCarthy blames third Gambia goal on mistake
“We thought a little bit of momentum, to control the game and go for more, but again another rookie mistake and lack of communication, organization between the players wasn’t there yet,” said McCarthy.
“Then we threw caution into the wind and we went on into a counter-attack and we created a good opportunity but they covered it, cleared it and we could have scored to make it 3-2 and shut up shop but we didn’t do so, and at the end, I haven’t seen a lot of the images but a lot of people shouted offside but I have to see before I can give my opinion, and then from there they score to make it 3-2 with six, seven minutes to go.”
Discussing how Kenya did not give up searching for the equaliser again which arrived in the last kick of the game courtesy of another substitute William Wilson, McCarthy said: “It was a brilliant effort from the team but to concede in the manner that we did and also in the minute the goal went in, instead of protecting the 2-2 and then we go 3-2 down, and then you just think all our efforts are in vain.
“But fortunately for us the boys had a lot of fight in them, character, personality, and the never say die attitude to fight to the end, and we managed to a last gasp opportunity to make it 3-3.”
He continued: “Overall, I think a draw doesn’t help either us or Gambia but I will take it since it is my first game in charge after being the Kenya national team coach only after a couple of days.
“So I am happy with the point, happy with what I saw, and lots to progress, lots to improve on this, but the positivity that I saw today gives me a better of hope that, another day or two of training that we can squeeze, will be enough against the big game against Gabon, it gives me a lot of belief and hope that we can probably go one step better than today.
“Of course, I think energy-wise, performance-wise has helped my players to give me what I want, all of them have given me what I wanted to see, and what I am looking for and I am exceptionally happy and proud of them for coming back twice to gain a point.”
On facing Gabon at Nyayo Stadium on Sunday in their matchday six fixture, McCarthy said: “For Sunday's game, we will try to recover as best as we possibly can and just trust the players you have available because I think that first team, which we put up for the first half, is a very strong team with players, who play in well-respected leagues in Europe.”
However, McCarthy hinted at making changes to his starting XI, giving praise to the players who came off the bench to salvage a draw for Kenya.
“That was one of the strongest Kenyan teams that we put out and I don’t think many of them will be available, fit and ready, the way I would want for Sunday, so I am going to rely a lot on the bench, the players that were not given an opportunity to play against Gambia and for the once that came in.
“Those players, who came in the second half, they came in with a lot of positive mentality and brought in a lot of energy into the game and two of them actually got on the scoresheet, so I am going to rely on those players, they are well capable of going out there and giving a good performance that we desire to see.”
McCarthy, however, remained cautious, insisting he still needs much time to work with his players before positive results could arrive.
“We had only one training session together as a team, do you think you want me to play like Barcelona? Having a team for one training session together? Of course, from reality, they have to get accustomed to each other,” he said.
“We have different ways, different styles that I expect from them, so don’t expect me to achieve that in one day with the team, but I think I am fairly happy with what I have seen and there is lots to look forward to be positive about what I have seen against Gambia and to be able to get a draw against them is an incredible performance.
“A 3-3 draw is a good result but now it is how we recover for the next game, travelling back to Kenya and getting all the recoveries and then Saturday means we will have a minus-one day training session again and then going to play against a team that is first position, it is going to be tough but we play in Kenya finally, so we'll have the support from all the Kenyans.”
This home fixture against Gabon is a crucial encounter for Harambee Stars as they continue their campaign for a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
