McCarthy pleased with progress as Harambee Stars see off Chad in friendly
Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy says Tuesday’s 2-1 win over Chad in Marrakech is a sign of progress as Kenya gears up for the African Nations Championship (CHAN), with local-based players stepping up during a crucial phase of preparations.
Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy says Kenya’s 2-1 victory over Chad on Tuesday night in Marrakech is a positive step as preparations for the African Nations Championship (CHAN) gather pace.
McCarthy attributed the win to tactical improvements and better decision-making in the final third, noting clear growth from the goalless draw between the two sides in the first friendly played on Saturday.
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“We played really well in the first match and deserved to win. I just told the players to be sharper and take their chances, and they responded well,” said McCarthy.
Training sessions in the lead-up to the match focused heavily on attacking transitions and movement in the final third - work that paid off with both goals coming from well-executed moves.
“The first goal came from Ben Stanley breaking down the wing and Osoro making a near-post run we had worked on. The second was another sharp move involving Austin Odhiambo and Osoro before Sakwa finished it off,” McCarthy said.
Despite the win, McCarthy remained cautious. “It’s a step in the right direction, but there’s still a lot to build on. I hope the players now see the levels we expect and the kind of football we want to play at CHAN.”
He also underlined the significance of fielding a squad largely composed of local-based players. “90% of our squad was local. That’s important because we’re building towards a tournament that focuses on homegrown talent.”
National teams coordinator Athanus Obala echoed the coach’s sentiments, describing the Morocco trip as valuable for both development and evaluation.
“The rotation allowed the coaches to assess a variety of players, and the facilities were top-class. These were two high-quality matches that gave us a lot to take home,” said Obala.
In the match itself, debutant Emmanuel Osoro gave Kenya the lead after connecting with Stanley’s cross at the near post. Moments later, he turned provider, setting up David Sakwa for the second goal. Chad pulled one back through Ali Mahamat Adam in the 60th minute, but Kenya held on to claim the win — McCarthy’s first since taking over.
Osoro, delighted with his debut, said: “It’s my first call-up to Harambee Stars and it’s a nice feeling to score. Scoring and assisting today means a lot to me.”
Sakwa added: “Scoring for the national team is a proud moment. It shows that your hard work is paying off.”
With CHAN approaching, and Kenya co-hosting the tournament alongside Uganda and Tanzania, the focus now shifts to fine-tuning the squad and solidifying systems ahead of the continental showpiece.
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