Bafana Bafana legend Benni McCarthy commenced his tenure as Kenya head coach in dramatic fashion after the Harambee stars and Gambia shared the spoils in a 3-3 draw during their latest Group F, 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier at the Alassane Ouattara Ebimpé Olympic Stadium on Thursday night.

Kenya looked dangerous during the opening exchanges of the match and came close to opening the scoring in the 9th minute after Micheal Olunga failed to direct a headed effort on target. However, Gambia created a couple of forward movements of their own but were unable to successfully break the Kenyan backline during the first 15 minutes of the match.

The Harambee Stars continued to see most of the ball half-way through the first-half but did little to trouble the Gambia defensive department. The Scorpions on the other hand battled to progress the ball up field.

However, Gambia were awarded a penalty shortly before the half-hour mark after the referee spotted an infringement inside the area. However, Musa Barrow was unable to put his side ahead after Ian Otieno pulled off a fine save to deny the Al-Taawoun forward.

Nevertheless, neither side were able to break the deadlock after 45 minutes as the score remained at 0-0 at half-time.

While Kenya bossed the possession count at the restart, it was Gambia who took the lead in the 54th minute. Barrow, who missed a penalty in the first 45, made up for his mishap with a venomous curling effort from range.

The Scorpions then doubled their lead at the hour-mark as Yankuba Minteh joined Barrow on the scoreboard. After taking the direct route toward the Kenya box, Minteh dragged the ball onto his weaker right foot before rifling the ball into the roof of the net.

Kenya were awarded a penalty in the 67th minute after contact was made on Jonah Ayunga inside the Gambia 18-yard-area. In stepping up to the spot, Michael Olunga sent Ebrima Jarju the wrong way with a well-taken left-footed effort.

The Harambee stars equalized 15 minutes from time after second-half substitute Mohammed Bajaber’s curling shot from the edge of the area found the back of the net in stunning fashion.

Gambia took the lead in the 83rd minute through another effort by Barrow. The Scorpion’s attack force dismantled Kenya’s backline with clever interplay inside the box which left Barrow with an easy task of slotting the ball home from close range.

Nevertheless, it was Kenya who had the last say on proceedings at the Alassane Ouattara Ebimpé Olympic Stadium. With one final line-out opportunity, the ball was thrown into the mix which fell into the path of William Wilson who made no mistake on the edge of the six-yard area.

Gambia: (0) 3 (Barrow 54’ 83’, Minteh 60’)

Kenya: (0) 3 ( Olunga 69’, Bajaber 75’, Wilson 95’)

Gambia: Jarju, Sinyan, Colley, Njie (Jatta 83’), Ceesay, Bajo (Adams 77’), Barry (Darboe 65’), Fadera (Sanyang 65’), Barrow, Minteh, Sowe (Ceesay 77’)

Kenya: Otieno, R.Onyango, Anyembe, B.Onyango, Otieno, Athuman (Wilson 46’), Akuma, Odada (Abuya 70’), Avire (Ayunga 62’), Olunga (Juma 85’), Omondi (Bajaber 62’)