Benni McCarthy finally got his breakthrough as Harambee Stars head coach, guiding Kenya to a 2-1 win over Chad in a high-intensity international friendly in Morocco on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, marking his first triumph since taking charge of the national team.

This was Harambee Stars’ first win in six matches across all competitions. Their last victory came on January 7, 2025, when they beat neighbours Tanzania 2-0 in a friendly at Gombani Stadium, courtesy of second-half goals from Boniface Muchiri and Ryam Ogam.

Kenya’s next assignment was another friendly, ending in a 1-1 draw with Burkina Faso at the same venue.

The Stars then turned to the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, drawing 3-3 against Gambia in a Group F clash, followed by a 2-1 home defeat to Gabon.

They later faced Chad again in a match that ended 0-0 on Saturday, June 7, 2025.

In Tuesday’s clash, Kenya took the lead in the 18th minute when debutant striker Emmanuel Osoro found the back of the net before David Sakwa made it 2-0 in the 45th minute.

Chad pulled a goal back when Ali Mahamat Adam scored in the 60th minute, but it was not enough to deny McCarthy his first win as Harambee Stars coach in four matches.

Seeking his first victory at the helm, the former Bafana Bafana striker made nine changes to the starting XI that had played to a 0-0 draw, with Bandari FC goalkeeper replacing Brian Bwire.

Siraj Mohammed, Sylvester Owino, Swaleh Pamba, and Lewis Bandi formed the backline tasked with keeping Chad’s strikers at bay.

In midfield, the technical duo of Alpha Onyango and Austin Odhiambo were handed starting roles, supported by William Lenkupae (retained from the previous XI) and the versatile Ben Omondi. Up front, Sakwa and Osoro completed the attacking line.

Kenya’s opener

Just like in the first meeting between the two sides, Kenya started brightly.

After only five minutes, they missed a golden chance when Lenkupae set up Osoro, who failed to find the target with the goal at his mercy.

Harambee Stars continued to press for the opener.

In the ninth minute, Osoro combined well with Lenkupae before releasing Sakwa, but the latter delayed his shot, allowing Chad goalkeeper Jourdain Mbaynassem to clear the danger.

However, Kenya’s persistent pressure paid off in the 12th minute when Osoro scored his debut goal for the national team.

Stanley Omondi spotted Osoro unmarked inside Chad’s danger zone and delivered a superb pass, which Osoro controlled before slotting it past the stranded Mbaynassem.

Chad responded with their first attack when Haroun Tchaouna dribbled past Owino and set up Ezechiel N’Douassel, who plays for Liga 2 club Persela Lamongan.

His volley was superbly saved by Shikhalo, his first of the match.

Five minutes later, Shikhalo was forced into two more crucial saves to preserve Kenya’s 1-0 lead.

From a corner delivered by Ali Mahamat Adam, an unmarked N’Douassel powered a thunderous header that Shikhalo parried before recovering quickly to block William Damba’s rebound.

Harambee Stars should have doubled their lead in the 36th minute when William Wilson (who plays as a central midfielder for Central Coast Mariners in Australia) weaved past Chad defenders and found himself one-on-one with Mbaynassem.

Instead of lobbing the ball, Wilson tried to slip it between the keeper’s legs, but Mbaynassem denied him with a strong save.

Kenya finally made it 2-0 when Osoro turned provider. A move initiated by Austin Odhiambo found Osoro on the left wing.

He raced down the flank before delivering a low pass, which the advancing Sakwa smashed home with a first-time right-footed shot past Mbaynassem.

That was the last meaningful action of the half, with the referee blowing the whistle as Kenya led 2-0 at the break.

Defensive mistake

Chad returned from the break with a double substitution, bringing on Youssouf Abdraman and Madoua Tchiva for Damba and Haroun Tchaouna.

Meanwhile, McCarthy also made changes, replacing goalscorer Sakwa with Beja Nyamawi and Alpha Onyango with Brian Musa Katibi.

Chad started the second half strongly and pinned Kenya back early. A free-kick from the right was delivered by Tchiva, but Shikhalo reacted quickly to clear the danger.

The pressure finally paid off in the 60th minute after a defensive lapse allowed Ali Mahamat Adam to sneak in behind and glance his header past Shikhalo from a looping pass by Ahmat Youssouf.

Despite Chad’s relentless push for an equaliser, Harambee Stars held firm, with Shikhalo making two more saves late on to secure a much-needed win under McCarthy.