Coach Benni McCarthy has seemingly enjoyed a great period of warm welcomes and congratulatory messages since his unveiling as the new Harambee Stars coach late last month.

Today, all eyes will be on the former Bafana Bafana top striker as he begins his era with Kenya – and his new path of coaching a national team, having left Man United last year where he served as a first-team coach. 

McCarthy’s football journey and success do not need any introduction. He has conquered both at home and away with his national team South Africa and at club level with clubs such as FC Porto.

For McCarthy, today’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match at the  StadeAllasane Ouattara against the Gambia will have huge significance.  

Probably to silence critiques and to announce his arrival as a coach for Harambee Stars which has struggled under different managers in search of football glory on the continent and beyond. 

The challenge ahead of him is against coach Johnathan McKinstry who knows the Kenyan team well following his two-year stint with record Football Kenya Federation PremierLeague champions Gor Mahia. 

The Irishman led Kogallo to back-back league titles before exiting the stage for the ‘lucrative’ Gambianational team role late last season. Coach McCarthy has named a fairly strong squad for his s first assignment.

His delegation in Abidjan is powered by experienced players and a few youngsters and this would suggest that the coach is going for three points in full throttle. 

Captain Michael Olunga who missed two crucial matches during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations against Zimbabwe and Namibia is available for selection.

There is also a place for a returning South African-based defender Brian Niang Mandela who has also missed several matches for the national outfit due to what was mentioned as personal reasons.

However, sources close to the former Mamelodi Sundowns centre-back indicate that he had chosen to stay away from the team after feeling neglected or under-utilized by former coach Engin Firat.  

Strikers Masud Juma and Elvis Rupia’Machapo’ are also available for starting roles. The duo have been away due to injuries or technical omissions. Kenya received a major blow after their star defender Joseph Stanley Okumu was ruled out of the matches in this window against Gambia today and Gabon on Sunday in Nairobi.  

The Reims ace has reportedly requested to be left out so as to continue with his full recovery and stability at his League 1 club which is undergoing a period of turbulence. Collins Sichenje was previously named in the provisional squad is also out after sustaining a knee injury over the weekend while featuring for his club in Finland. 

Whilst first-choice goalkeeper ByrneOmondi (Bandari FC) is not with the team in this camp, coach McCarthywill assess the three available goalies of Ian Otieno, Brian Bwire and Faruk Shikalo and make a decision on who to start between the sticks for the crucial game even though Otieno is mostly likely to be given the mantle due to international experience. 

In the defence, Eric Ouma Marcelo and Daniel Anyembe are likely to be deployed in the left and right-back positions while Brian Mandela and Johnstone Omurwa paired at the heart of the defence 

Richard Odada and Anthony Akumu could be drafters at the park of the midfield together with Yanga’s DukeAbuya and Eric Johanna. Spain-based Ismael Gonzalez who was overlooked by Firat could be considered for a role in the midfield. 

It remains to be seen how youngster Timothy Ouma who recently joined Check’s  Sparta Prague from IF Elfsborg in Sweden will be utilised. On form, Kenya Police FC midfielder Mohamed Bajaber and GorMahia’s Ben Stanley Omondi are also available for consideration. 

At the frontline, coach McCarthy has all the missiles needed to beat Gambia. Skipper Michael Olunga, John Avire, Elvis Rupia, Johna Ayunga and Masud Juma are fit and at his disposal for picking. 

Ahead of the 10 PM (Kenyan time) match, Harambee Stars sits in the third position on the tricky Group F standings with four points from four outings. Gambia are ranked fifth on three points and are expected to throw everything at Kenya to boost their chances of qualifications.

African champions Ivory Coast tops that standing with eleven points from four matches.

’The games are coming at a time when the players can shift their mindsets. Qualifying for the World Cup is the biggest thing in football. For me, I am ambitious and we are putting in the work knowing that we can salvage something in these two matches against Gambia and Gabon at home on Sunday.  

“I am training a team that will show desire, and fighting spirit on the pitch. A team that every Kenyan will be proud of,” McCarthy said ahead of the match tonight.