Salim Mvurya encourages Harambee Stars after crushing defeat to Gambia
By Joel Masibo, September 6, 2025Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya has asked the national men’s football team, Harambee Stars, to remain focused despite losing 3-1 to Gambia in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers played on Friday, September 5, 2025, at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.
Coach Benni McCarthy’s Harambee Stars performance came under scrutiny after the Scorpions punished the team’s defensive lapses to take a commanding 3-0 first-half lead, with Sheriff Shinyan, Yankuba Minteh, and Musa Barrow all finding the back of the net before the break.
After creating numerous opportunities, Harambee Stars pulled a goal back late through Ryan Ogam in the dying minutes of the second half. Still, the damage had already been done as Gambia sealed maximum points, pushing them to eight points in Group F, two clear of Kenya’s six.
Following the defeat before the home crowd, CS Mvurya congratulated the team, asking them to keep their heads high as they head into their next assignments.
“Well done, Harambee Stars! Keep your heads high and know that Kenyans, as shown by the thrilling numbers and relentless support today, believe in your journey!” Salim Mvurya said.
Benni McCarthy defends squad selection
Speaking after the match, Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy justified his backline choices after the heavy defeat. Harambee Stars fans expected Benni McCarthy to maintain his strong 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) squad comprising Michael Kibwage, Alfonce Omija, Abud Omar and Lewis Bandi. Still, surprisingly, the South African tactician started with Abud Omar as the only defender from the CHAN squad, giving Collins Sichenje, who plays as a centre-back for Serbian SuperLiga club Vojvodina, a starting berth in the place of Omija, who had a stellar CHAN outing.
Even though McCarthy retained Gor Mahi’s pair of Bryne Omondi and Sylester Owino in the starting line-up, the sharp attacking line of the visiting team, led by Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh made good use of the Harambee Stars’ shaky defence.
McCarthy defended his selection, dismissing criticism that he should have started with alternative defenders. “If I had gone with a backline of Bandi, Omija, Sylvester and Abud, we might have conceded 5 to 10 goals,” the South African tactician remarked, pointing to the quality and experience gap between his chosen starters and the unused options.