McCarthy made several changes to the squad that played against Gambia in the previous match, with goal scorers Mohammad Bajaber and William Lenkupae starting.
Harambee Stars had a disappointing evening on Sunday as they were defeated 2-1 by Gabon in the CAF World Cup qualifiers at Nyayo National Stadium, with the loss marking coach Benni McCarthy first defeat with the team.
McCarthy made several changes to the squad that played against Gambia in the previous match, with goal scorers Mohammad Bajaber and William Lenkupae starting. Defender Johnstone Omurwa and forward Timothy Ouma, who did not feature in the last match, were also included in the starting lineup.
The match began with both teams creating early chances. Antony Okumu’s shot was cleared off the line by Gabon goalkeeper Maurice Mbaba, while Pierre Aubameyang’s attempt was stopped by Eric Ouma before goalkeeper Ian Otieno cleared it off the line.
Kenya looked the stronger team in the opening stages, dominating possession and dictating play. Lenkupae and Michael Olunga both had chances to break the deadlock, but Mbaba was equal to the task, denying them both.
In the 7th minute, Kenya felt they should have been awarded a penalty after Olunga was brought down inside the box, but the referee waved play on.
Gabon opened the scoring in the 16th minute when Aubameyang capitalized on a well-weighted through ball from midfield, finding space to slot the ball past Otieno. Kenya quickly responded, with Olunga finding the back of the net in the 19th minute after a rebound from Lenkupae’s shot, but the goal was ruled out for offside. A few moments later, Richard Odada’s shot went wide and the Kenyans continued to push for an equalizer.
Despite their dominance, Kenya could not convert their chances into goals. In the 40th minute, they came close to leveling the score after a slick exchange between Olunga and Ouma, but Olunga’s shot hit the crossbar. Shortly before halftime, Kenya had another opportunity, but Olunga failed to convert Roonie Onyango’s cross, leaving the score 1-0 in favor of Gabon at the break.
The second half saw Gabon nearly double their lead early on. Aubameyang played a key role, setting up a teammate whose shot hit the crossbar. Just seconds later, Gabon were awarded a penalty when Eric Ouma handled the ball in the box. Aubameyang stepped up to convert the spot kick, sending Ian Otieno the wrong way to make it 2-0.
Kenya finally pulled one back in the 62nd minute, with Eric Ouma showing individual brilliance as he dribbled past two defenders and delivered a perfect cross for Olunga to finish calmly. The goal brought the stadium to life, and McCarthy made attacking changes, bringing on Jonah Ayunga and Duke Abuya in a bid to find an equalizer.
The Kenyans continued to push forward, but Gabon’s defense held firm, using time wasting tactics to run down the clock. Despite a valiant effort from Kenya, the visitors held on to secure a 2-1 victory, leaving Harambee Stars to reflect on missed opportunities and a frustrating defeat.