McCarthy impressed with Harambee Stars after draw and win against Chad

Photo Credit – Football Kenya Federation.

Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy has revealed his happiness with the camp in Morocco where the national team played two international friendly matches against Chad at the Stade de Marrakech.

During the first match, Kenya battled to a 0-0 draw but they produced a better display in the second game to win 2-1, a victory which turned out to be the first for McCarthy since taking over as the coach of Harambee Stars after four matches in charge.

“I am very happy for the boys, I think we had a really good week in camp, we had a good time, we got to know each other very well during training sessions, and I think these boys, yeah, the Morocco outing was superb for them,” McCarthy told Flashscore.

“The first game we played very well, exceptionally well and we deserved to win, but we couldn’t win, and you could see the expression on the face of the players, when you played the way that we did, and we didn’t win the game.

“But in the second game, I just said to the players, now we just need to kick on a little bit, when you play the way that we did, and you create the chances, then you will see how easy it becomes to score the goals.

“So, the boys, who came in did very well, they took the moment, they created so much more, and it was just nice to see that we were able to start to see the way you want to see your team play, the way you want the players to move the ball, and understand each other, so a lot of positives came out of the win, and I am delighted for the team.”

McCarthy continued: “You know, I am more than delighted because they got a win that we deserved, and I feel that we can build from this training that we have had in Morocco.

“We did well in the first game, but what we lacked was being clinical in front of the goal, and the training session we did before the second game was just about that (how to finish in front of the goal), players being comfortable on the ball, and what they need to do when they get past the half way line, and to attack with speed, and a little bit move the ball quicker, and just fasten not to allow the opposition team to come back into your own half.”

Kenya used the friendly matches as part of their preparation for the upcoming 2025 Africa Nations Championships (CHAN) that will co-host alongside Uganda and Tanzania.