Harambee Stars face a defining test of character in Kigali on Monday night, with Benni McCarthy calling for a strong response after Kenya’s stuttering start to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.
Kenya march into Amahoro Stadium at 7 pm East African Time for a charged Kigali showdown with Rwanda’s Amavubi, desperate to reignite their campaign after a 1-1 stalemate with Eritrea and a narrow 1-0 defeat to Guinea.
McCarthy’s charges arrived in Kigali still reeling from their Conakry heartbreak, where Serhou Guirassy’s second-half strike condemned Kenya to a narrow defeat.
The defeat once again exposed Kenya’s Achilles heel in attack, with the Stars enjoying promising spells of possession but repeatedly failing to turn control into clear-cut chances.
“In the last two matches against Eritrea and Guinea, we had a very good performance and dominated the game, but we need to turn that into goals,” McCarthy said.
With the 2027 Afcon finals looming, the Rwanda friendly gives McCarthy another stage to shuffle his pack, assess his options and forge the balance he wants in a squad destined for the continental spotlight. Despite automatic qualification, McCarthy has insisted the competitive matches remain important. “Being co-hosts does not give us a free pass to relax,” he said.
Monday’s clash could usher in changes to the starting line-up, with Ryan Ogam, Job Ochieng and others knocking hard on the door for their chance to shine.
McCarthy knows he needs a squad deep enough to withstand the rigours and relentless demands of international football. “Every player has to be ready because we need everyone,” he said.
The coach is looking for greater fluidity without possession, with his players expected to burst into the spaces around the box and give Kenya’s attacks the movement and unpredictability they have sometimes lacked. “We need to have more movement off the ball and get in the spaces,” McCarthy said.
The Amavubi arrive in buoyant spirits, their confidence fuelled by a perfect start to the Afcon qualifiers, which have seen them sweep aside Liberia and Cape Verde.
The Amavubi have also won four consecutive matches, giving coach Stephen Constantine confidence ahead of the regional showdown. The Englishman has already indicated that Monday’s fixture will be used to examine some of the younger players in his squad.
“So, like with India in 2015, I have had to build from scratch. Which is why in the friendly against Kenya at home, I will look at some young players,” Constantine said.
That emphasis on development fits into a wider rebuilding project under the experienced coach, who returned to the Amavubi dugout earlier this year.
Constantine has spoken openly about the need to establish a stronger foundation, particularly by creating opportunities for emerging players. “There is a lot of work to be done, including focusing on young players, which I believe will help us build a stronger future and achieve our objectives,” he said.
The hosts will nevertheless approach the match with confidence after their impressive start. Constantine believes his squad has the quality to make significant progress, describing the current group as one of the strongest he has worked with during his long coaching career.
“In more than 30 years of coaching, this is one of the best squads of players I have had,” he said. For Rwanda, the bigger prize remains a return to the AFCON finals for the first time since 2004. Constantine has made that objective clear, while also recognising that the road ahead will become considerably tougher when Rwanda face Mali twice in November. “There are some very difficult games, but we are in a good position. With a bit of luck, we can do this,” he said.
McCarthy, too, sees the current international window as part of a longer rebuilding process. The South African wants his players to use every opportunity to sharpen their understanding of his methods, while maintaining the competitive edge required at international level. “Our goal for this international window is simple: we want maximum points,” McCarthy said. The Kigali friendly therefore carries significance beyond the result.
