Former Manchester United assistant coach Benni McCarthy marked his debut as Kenya’s head coach with a dramatic 3-3 draw against Gambia in a World Cup qualifier on Thursday.
A slow first half saw Gambia’s Musa Barrow miss a penalty, but the match exploded into life after the break.
Gambia led by two goals and later by one before William Wilson salvaged a draw for Kenya deep into stoppage time, firing past goalkeeper Ebrima Jarju after a long throw was poorly cleared.
Barrow made up for his missed spot kick by scoring twice, while Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh also found the net for Gambia.
Michael Olunga converted a penalty for Kenya, with substitute Mohammed Bajaber also getting on the scoresheet at the National Stadium in Abidjan.
McCarthy, who took charge with the ambition of guiding Kenya to their first-ever World Cup, expressed confidence before the match that his side could “surprise a lot of people” in the qualifiers.
Meanwhile, Gabon secured a 3-0 win over Seychelles to lead Group F with 12 points ahead of their clash against Kenya in Nairobi on Sunday. Ivory Coast, reigning African champions, sit second with 10 points and will face Burundi next.
Only the winners of each group are guaranteed a spot at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Benin Top Group C Despite Fierce Competition
Benin climbed to the top of Group C despite wasting a two-goal lead in a 2-2 draw against Zimbabwe in Durban. Steve Mounie and Dokou Dodo put Benin ahead, but Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Marshall Munetsi pulled one back before halftime.
Knowledge Musona equalised just before the hour mark, but Zimbabwe could not find a late winner. The group remains tightly contested, with Benin leading on eight points, while Rwanda and South Africa trail with seven each.
In a surprising campaign, Rwanda shocked South Africa, while six-time World Cup qualifiers Nigeria have struggled—drawing against Lesotho and losing to Benin. Nigeria, now managed by Ivorian Eric Chelle, face Rwanda in a must-win match on Friday.
Elsewhere in Africa’s World Cup Qualifiers
Former Inter Milan and Monaco midfielder Mohamed Kallon celebrated a winning debut as Sierra Leone’s head coach, guiding them to a 3-1 victory over Guinea-Bissau.
Mustapha Bundu, who starred in Plymouth’s FA Cup upset against Liverpool, opened the scoring. Sierra Leone now sit second in Group A, trailing leaders Egypt by two points.
Mozambique climbed to the top of Group G with a 3-1 victory over Uganda in Cairo, thanks to a double from Portuguese third-division midfielder Pedro ‘Pepo’ Santos. Uganda’s goalkeeper Ismail Watenga endured a nightmare evening, spilling a cross for Santos’ second goal before being substituted at halftime.
Gambia, Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone, and Mozambique all played their matches at neutral venues due to a lack of FIFA-approved stadiums in their home countries.
