Kenya coach Benni McCarthy laments missed chances in Guinea defeat

Kenya head coach Benni McCarthy has expressed his disappointment with his side’s failure to convert their opportunities after the Harambee Stars suffered a narrow defeat to Guinea in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.

McCarthy’s side created several promising opportunities during the encounter and managed to put the Guinean defence under pressure, but their lack of cutting edge in the final third ultimately proved costly.

Guinea capitalised on Kenya’s missed chances, with Serhou Guirassy scoring the decisive goal to hand the hosts victory and leave McCarthy frustrated with the result.

The South African coach believes Kenya’s lack of experience in crucial areas of the pitch made the difference, arguing that the outcome could have been different had his players shown greater composure in front of goal.

“If we had some of the experience that Guinea had, I think maybe it would have been a different situation because we created some nerve-wracking moments for them, but unfortunately, in the final third, we lacked a bit of experience,” McCarthy said.

Despite the defeat, the former Manchester United assistant coach praised his players for their determination and fighting spirit, particularly given the expectations surrounding the fixture.

McCarthy noted that many had expected Kenya to suffer a heavy defeat against Guinea, but the Harambee Stars remained competitive and created enough chances to trouble their opponents.

“But I’m very happy for the players for the fight. People expected us to lose by three, four or five, but Guinea were very fortunate that we didn’t make use of the opportunities that we created,” he added. The result leaves McCarthy and his players with plenty to work on as they continue their bid to secure qualification for the 2027 AFCON. Improving their efficiency in front of goal will be a key priority if Kenya are to turn promising performances into points in their remaining qualifiers