McCarthy vows Kenya will take game to Bafana Bafana in home qualifier

Kenya head coach Benni McCarthy says his team will adopt a more attacking approach when they face Bafana Bafana in Tuesday’s return qualifier at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi.

The Harambee Stars earned a 2-2 draw against South Africa at Orlando Amstel Arena on Friday night, recovering from a goal down on two occasions to claim a point on South African soil.

McCarthy believes Kenya showed in the first leg that they can control the match when they commit to playing on the front foot, and expects home conditions to benefit his side.

“When we go home it will be different, I’m not sure whether South Africa will be accustomed to the altitude, the climate in Kenya,” said McCarthy.

“Our players are accustomed to it. So, we will be looking to take the game to them because we saw [on Friday] when we want to play, we can play.

“We just have to do that from the first minute of the game, take the game to them.”

The Kenya coach said the draw had given his players confidence that they can impose themselves against Pitso Mosimane’s side, provided they maintain that approach from the opening whistle.

However, McCarthy also stressed that Kenya cannot afford to overlook the attacking threat posed by Bafana Bafana.

He highlighted the danger of Elias Mokwana, Tshepang Moremi, Relebohile Mofokeng and Iqraam Rayners, who he said caused problems for Kenya during Friday’s match.

“But also, we have to be aware of the threats they pose. The players they have upfront, Appollis, Tshepang, Mofokeng, Rayners. They gave us headache,” he added.