Kenya 0-8 Senegal: 5 Costly Mistakes Made by Benni McCarthy in Historic Loss

Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy saw his tactics brutally exposed by Senegal who handed Kenya one of their worst defeats in history.

‎Kenya were thrashed 8-0 by Senegal with most of the carnage taking place in the first half as the West Africans were 4-0 up inside 17 minutes and 6-0 at halftime.

‎It was a footballing lesson that those selected will carry with them for life but McCarthy made some errors of judgement that came back to bite him.

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‎While McCarthy made his call-ups based on the fact that his team were to play Madagascar and Comoros, he still had experienced players to field against the Senegalese.

‎Instead, he chose this as the game to give Bryton Onyona his debut, started young Baron Ochieng, and brought back Anthony Akumu, who last played for him in March.

‎While the rest of the team still lacked quality to match Senegal, this was not the game to start players who have not had a run in the team and their performance told.

‎The second error of judgement from McCarthy was thinking that his team would go toe-to-toe with Senegal.

‎Kenya’s decision to play out from the back saw them dig their own grave as they were not able to beat the Senegal press, forcing them to give the ball away in dangerous areas.

‎This is how four of the first six goals happened and it is from panicking in the box that they gave away two penalties.

‎Kenya lacked quality to build from the back as passes from goalkeeper Brian Bwire were easily intercepted, same as from the defenders, who could not find their teammates in midfield, and when they pushed numbers higher, they were caught on the counter like Sadio Mane's first goal.

‎McCarthy might have wanted to look at some of his young players this month but it was suicidal to start Onyona and Ochieng against such an opponent.

‎The two, starting their first senior game, would not have wished for a worse time to do it as their inexperience was brutally exposed, leading to many mistakes.

‎It would have been good to bring them in later in the game to get some minutes in the legs rather than starting as this could affect their confidence.

Senegal coach Pape Thiaw also had three debutants in his squad but only one was given 19 minutes against Brazil while the other two got their chances against less quality opposition in Kenya.

‎It is another tactical gamble that failed to pay off for McCarthy as he opted to stick to his principles even when it was not working.

‎Besides instructing his players to build from the back, McCarthy had some of his players in uncomfortable positions like Duke Abuya handed huge defensive responsibilities while Austin Odhiambo was played out wide instead of his favourite No.10.

This left the Gor Mahia playmaker and Jonah Ayunga isolated upfront while the midfield looked disjointed and the defence exposed.

‎Credit to McCarthy for trying to go with a midfield that has experience but the profile of the players he chose let him down.

‎Akumu lacks the legs, Abuya is more forward-thinking than defensive while Alpha Onyango likes to roam everywhere to sniff out danger and get his team on the front foot.

However, against Senegal, it was defence against attack and being pragmatic to avoid a thrashing would have been ideal rather than trying to match them.

A more defensive midfield aimed at damage limitation with an intention of nicking a goal on the counter would have saved Kenya the huge embarrassment.

Still, it must be noted that Kenya and Senegal are levels apart and the huge loss just exposed the gulf in class between the two teams.