Kenya’s Harambee Stars played to a 0-0 draw against Chad on Saturday night in their first-ever international friendly at Marrakech Stadium in Morocco.
The result means head coach Benni McCarthy is still chasing his first win in charge of the national team.
Since taking the reins, McCarthy has overseen a 3-3 draw with Gambia and a 2-1 loss to Gabon in Kenya’s Group F World Cup qualifiers this past March.
Kenya and Chad will meet again on Tuesday at the same venue in their second friendly. Both matches are part of Kenya’s preparations for the 2024 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN), set to take place from August 2 to 30, co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
According to the latest FIFA rankings, Kenya are placed 111th, while Chad are ranked 177th.
With both captain Michael Olunga and vice-captain Joseph Okumu unavailable, veteran defender Brian Mandela took on the armband. There was also a notable debut for England-based winger Adam Wilson, who started the match.
Top FKF Premier League scorer Moses Shumah of Kakamega Homeboyz, with 17 goals this season, led the attack. Despite a lively start, Kenya couldn’t convert their early chances.
In the 6th minute, Shumah missed a close-range effort before forcing Chad goalkeeper Mbaynaissem Jourdain into a solid save with a strike from the edge of the area.
Chad’s best chance came in the 10th minute, when Ali Mahamat’s header was well saved by Kenyan keeper Brian Bwire.
The two sides return to action on Tuesday as they continue fine-tuning ahead of CHAN 2024.
