Harambee Stars edge Chad as McCarthy bags first win
Football
By
Washington Onyango
| Jun 10, 2025
Harambee Stars claimed a 2-1 win over Chad at the Marrakech Stadium in Morocco, giving head coach Benni McCarthy his first victory since taking charge of the team.
The win came after a goalless draw against the same Chad side on Saturday, 7 June. McCarthy, who had failed to win in his first three matches, made nine changes to his squad - and the move paid off.
Kenya took the lead in the 18th minute through Emmanuel Osoro. The FC Talanta striker finished off a low cross from Ben Stanley after a quick team move.
Later, Osoro turned provider. He collected a pass from Austin Odhiambo and set up David Sakwa to score Kenya's second goal.
Chad, who are ranked 66 places below Kenya, pushed harder in the second half and managed to pull one back. Ali Mahamat scored with a header past goalkeeper Farouk Shikhalo, but it was only a consolation.
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McCarthy, a former Manchester United assistant coach, said he is focused on building a strong team for the upcoming African Nations Championship (CHAN) in August.
His first three games in charge saw Kenya draw 3-3 with The Gambia, lose 2-1 to Gabon in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, and draw 0-0 with Chad last weekend.
This win finally broke that poor run.