The countdown is on to Kasarani, and with Kenya vs Gambia set for September 5, the Harambee Stars enter a decisive week that blends fresh belief with clear-eyed realism. Head coach Benni McCarthy has signalled a bold reset after CHAN 2024, promoting a wave of homegrown talent to the senior setup as Kenya prepares for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and a swift follow-up against Seychelles on September 10.
Kenya’s fairy tale at CHAN 2024 ended in a gut-punch of a finish, a 4-3 penalty shootout loss to Madagascar in the quarter-finals at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani. The result stung, yet in the silence that followed, McCarthy’s message to the country was that this was not the end, it was the beginning of a new chapter for the national team.
What the CHAN run revealed
Across CHAN 2024, a young, fearless core showed the temperament and technique to stay with the continent’s best. McCarthy confirmed that between 10 and 15 from that group will step into the senior frame for the qualifiers, a clear sign of trust in the momentum that formed in front of a raucous home crowd at Kasarani.
There will be quite a lot of these players on the international stage because I think they deserve it. They have worked exceptionally hard, and there is some really good quality and good potential going forward, so between 10 and 15 players from the squad will move up.
The thread that ran through Kenya’s CHAN story was resilience, the kind that does not fade after one setback. It is the same strand McCarthy wants to weave into the World Cup campaign, one that rewards form and character, not just reputation.
How the qualifiers table shapes the challenge
After six Group F matches, Kenya sit fourth with six points, built on one victory, three draws and two losses. The lone win came in a commanding 5-0 victory over Seychelles, while the draws arrived against Burundi, Cote d’Ivoire and Gambia. Two 2-1 defeats to Gabon have stretched the gap to the leaders, and McCarthy has not shied away from the truth of the situation, with Cote d’Ivoire on 16 points, one ahead of second-placed Gabon.
Regarding World Cup qualifiers, it is realistically almost an impossible task for us to qualify, so you might as well prepare the player for a higher stage because they have done exceptionally well in Chan and now I think stepping up for them might do them good.
Honesty can often be the start of progress. With qualification a tall order, the task shifts to building a competitive side that performs with conviction now, and is ready to surge when the next cycle begins.
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Who could step up
The CHAN standouts formed a spine that felt both familiar and fresh. The goalkeeper line was anchored by Byrne Omondi, whose reflexes and command were rewarded with a man-of-the-match performance against Morocco. In front of him, defenders Michael Kibwage, Sylvester Owino, Alphonce Omija and Mohammed Siraj showed timing in the tackle and calm under pressure, with Omija scoring the quarter-final opener during that dramatic night at Kasarani.
Midfield control came from a blend of craft and composure. Austine Odhiambo, Alpha Onyango, Suleiman Manzur and Boniface Muchiri knitted attacks with short passes and patience, the kind of rhythm that can travel to senior international football. Odhiambo and striker Ryan Ogam each scored twice in the tournament, a return that put end product to the promise. Ogam took home the man-of-the-match award against Zambia, while Alpha Onyango claimed the accolade twice, against DRC and then Madagascar, a testament to his influence in the engine room.
- In goal, Byrne Omondi’s shot-stopping and presence offered a secure platform,
- in defence, the quartet of Michael Kibwage, Sylvester Owino, Alphonce Omija and Mohammed Siraj brought solidity and range on the ball,
- in midfield and attack, Austine Odhiambo, Alpha Onyango, Suleiman Manzur, Boniface Muchiri and Ryan Ogam added creativity and end product.
For supporters, these names will not only be a roll call, they will be a pledge of energy. The sense is that Kenya’s next steps will be made by players who have already earned the weight of the jersey with their CHAN performances in Nairobi, a foundation that matters as the lights brighten again at Kasarani.
What to expect against Gambia
Gambia arrive as familiar opponents, given the earlier draw in the group. The fixture on September 5 is framed as an opportunity for Kenya to show a different face, a side injected with rhythm and confidence from CHAN. McCarthy has been clear that the mission is to compete hard in the remaining qualifiers against Gambia and Seychelles, and to ensure the performance level reflects the growing standards set by the home-based core.
We go out and be competitive against Gambia and Seychelles but I think these players did themselves good with the performance they have given me and the rest of the country.
At Kasarani, the crowd can be a force multiplier. The team that faced Madagascar showed they can handle pressure points, switch tempo when needed, and ride momentum in waves. That template, tightened for senior international football, gives Kenya a realistic path to a result.
Why this rebuild matters
McCarthy’s approach marries present needs with future gain, a delicate balance that often defines successful national projects. The coach, who wore the shirts of Porto and West Ham United and later served as Manchester United’s forwards coach, is putting his experience to work, blending youthful energy with the exposure that comes from World Cup qualifiers.
There is also a cultural undercurrent at play. The CHAN squad, built from the domestic game, earned trust by facing down giants and staying brave in tight moments. That confidence travels. It can reshape the senior side’s training ground habits and matchday personality, turning pressure into poise and expectation into fuel.
The human stories behind the surge
Look closely at the individuals and the picture sharpens. Omija’s quarter-final opener was a defender’s dream, the sort of moment that lives long in memory. Omondi’s gloves against Morocco told of a goalkeeper seeing the ball early and commanding his area. Odhiambo’s goals signposted a player happy to take responsibility between the lines, while Alpha Onyango stitched patterns that often dictate the pulse of a match.
Up front, Ogam’s movement and finishing gave Kenya a cutting edge. His CHAN heroics have inevitably sparked conversation around his club future at Tusker, a storyline that underscores how quickly tournaments like CHAN can shift a player’s horizon. The upshot for Kenya is simple, a deeper pool of form players ready to translate that confidence onto an even bigger stage.
The state of play before Kasarani
Kenya’s six points tell one story, but the performances tell another. A thumping win over Seychelles revealed attacking thrust, the draws against Burundi, Cote d’Ivoire and Gambia displayed organization and resilience, and the near-misses against Gabon showed how thin the margins can be in this group. Leaders Cote d’Ivoire have set an imposing pace, with Gabon in striking distance, yet Kenya’s job now is to control what can be controlled, the intensity and clarity of their own display.
That is where the CHAN graduates can tilt the balance. Players who have recently won duels in high-stress minutes often carry a different kind of certainty. It shows up in second balls, in the timing of a press, and in the patience to recycle possession when the crowd wants the forward pass. Those are the tiny edges that can turn a tight qualifier into a breakthrough night.
Key storylines to watch
- The emergence of a new core from CHAN and how quickly they adapt to the senior stage,
- the response to quarter-final heartbreak and whether that pain becomes fuel at Kasarani,
- the impact of home support and whether early control can tilt the match in Kenya’s favour.
Looking ahead to Seychelles
Five days after Gambia, Seychelles return to Kasarani for another test of focus. The earlier 5-0 result is a data point, but no match repeats itself exactly. If Kenya can carry forward the composure from CHAN and the urgency of a team trying to set standards, they can give the home crowd a performance to hold onto across the next cycle.
In the bigger picture, these back-to-back fixtures offer a runway for development. Training camp minutes, matchday duels, and the daily conversations that follow are where a team’s identity is forged. Win or draw, the key is that Kenya look like the team they want to become, quicker to second balls, sharper in transitions, calmer on the final pass.
Final word
Every national team rebuild hinges on timing and trust. Timing, because windows like this do not stay open forever. Trust, because integrating young players requires belief from the coach and patience from the crowd. McCarthy has offered both, and CHAN has provided the evidence to support it. The task now is simple to say and difficult to achieve, carry that energy into the senior arena and let Kasarani feel it.
On September 5, Kenya meet Gambia with a renewed sense of purpose. On September 10, Seychelles arrive to face a team eager to show growth. The mathematics of the group may be unforgiving, but the football still offers meaning. For the Harambee Stars, this is a chance to set a new tone, to prove that the lessons of CHAN 2024 were not a fleeting spark, but the start of something that endures.
