‘Why Harambee Stars will be unplayable at Afcon 2027’ – Gor Mahia defender explains
NAIROBI, Kenya, April 1, 2026 – Harambee Stars defender Mike Kibwage is optimistic the team will be a formidable force at next year’s Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).
The Gor Mahia centreback points to the recent performance at the Fifa Global Series in Rwanda as evidence of the portent side that Benni McCarthy is cooking.
“It is unfortunate we did not win the tournament. We would have loved to win it but we have to remember we are preparing for Afcon. Slowly by slowly, I am confident we will get there,” Kibwage said.
The national team finished third at the newly-formed tournament, thrashing Grenada 3-0 in the bronze medal match-up at the Amahoro Stadium on Monday evening.
It came on the back of a 5-4 loss (on post-match penalties) to Estonia at the same venue on Friday night.
The game was the 17th for McCarthy who now boasts six wins, six losses and five draws.
Crucially, the South African has brought forth an attractive brand of football that emphasizes on a structured way of play in which players move back and forth in formation.
Ups and downs
It has not always come off as envisaged, such as last November’s 8-0 thrashing by Senegal in an international friendly in Turkey, as well as September’s 3-1 humbling by Gambia in a 2026 World Cup qualifier on home soil.
However, there are equally matches in which the team have been unplayable, offering a glimpse of the force they could become, with much more time and refining.
A case in point was Monday’s tie against the Caribbean side who they tore apart at will, carving out chance after chance.
Speaking at the same time, McCarthy admitted he was a tad disappointed by their conversion of the chances created in the game.
“We lost 8-0 to Senegal and here tonight, we could have maybe scored more. I counted close to 10 or 11 chances that we created but we were not able to convert them,” McCarthy, himself a pinpoint marksman during his playing career, said.
Nonetheless, the South African will be forgiven for not throwing the baby out with the bathwater.
There are plenty positives to pick from the outing, which provided him with an opportunity to keep fitting in the pieces to the puzzle, that is the Harambee Stars project.
By the time Afcon kicks off in June next year, the hope and prayer is that Harambee Stars will be a team that sends shivers down the opponents’ spine.
The post ‘Why Harambee Stars will be unplayable at Afcon 2027’ – Gor Mahia defender explains appeared first on Capital Sports.