World Cup (Q): McCarthy praises Ivory Coast for quality after defeat

Kenya national team coach Benni McCarthy conceded defeat to Ivory Coast after Harambee Stars suffered a 3-0 defeat against the African champions at Alassane Ouattara Ebimpe Olympic Stadium on Tuesday.

Goals from Franck Kessie, Amad Diallo, and Yan Diomende ensured that the African champions punched the automatic ticket to the World Cup from Group F.

“First I would like to congratulate Emerson (Fae), for qualifying Ivory Coast to the World Cup. Our objective in this game was to go out there and complicate, posing difficulties for Ivory Coast because we are professionals. We didn’t want to come here to lose the match,” said McCarthy as quoted by Flashscore.

Kenya will compete at highest level in two years

“We have to give credit which is due. You look at the quality, the players that Ivory Coast had, all internationals from European top clubs, and for Kenya, we are building, we have a young team.”

McCarthy continued: “We are learning, so it was to give everything we can, and play with pride, but unfortunately, when you play such a strong and experienced team like Ivory Coast, it was always going to be difficult, no matter how tactically you try to set out the game.

“They (Ivory Coast) just have too many individual quality players who can change a match. Amad (Diallo) is one of those players, Nicolas (Pepe), so it was always going to be almost impossible to stop a very good Ivory Coast side.

He concluded: “It was a fantastic learning experience for us, and I think in two years’ time, we will be ready, and we will be at a better level to be able to compete with teams like Ivory Coast.”

Kenya came fourth with 12 points after managing three wins, three draws and suffered four defeats.