Kenya locks horns with The Gambia in a Group F 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match on Thursday 20 March at the Stade Alassane Ouattara in Ivory Coast from 2200 hrs EAT.The winner of the match will most likely be decided by the team that will emerge victorious in a majority of the individual duels across the pitch.Follow our WhatsApp channel for more newsWith both teams boasting quality players in their ranks and experienced tacticians in the respective dugouts, Mozzart Sport takes a look at the key battles that are expected in the match with the most fierce duel happening in the dugouts pitting Gambia’s Jonathan McKinstry against Kenya’s Benni McCarthy.PREVIEW: Benni McCarthy out to kick start Harambee Stars reign with win over GambiaBenni McCarthy vs Jonathan McKinstryBoth McCarthy and McKinstry will lock horns in the dugouts with the tactical battle between the two tacticians expected to take centre stage even as they both aim at reviving their team’s hopes of qualifying for the World Cup.McCarthy is an experienced coach in African football having competed across Africa as a player for South Africa and later as the head coach in the South African league.##NAJAVA_MECA_8790145##The former Manchester United forwards’ coach will also be keen to be at his best tactically to kick start his tenure at the helm of Harambee Stars with victory.McKinstry will be counting on his experience and knowledge of Kenyan football having served as the head coach of Kenyan giants Gor Mahia for over two years before leaving for The Gambia.The winner of this dugout battle is most likely to also walk away with all three points.Millions FKF expect from Harambee Stars’ first home game in 4 yearsMichael Olunga vs Omar ColleyHarambee Stars captain Michael Olunga will lead Kenya’s search for goals in the match, a venture that will pit him against The Gambia captain Omar Colley who will be marshalling the Gambia defense.Olunga is a proven goal scorer and has been scoring freely at club level for Al-Duhail where he is currently the team’s all-time top scorer and has 30 goals so far in his international career.##NAJAVA_MECA_8790245##The 30-year-old will once again carry on his shoulder the burden of delivering goals for Kenya.Colley, 32 had been a key figure for The Gambia and his wealth of experience will be required to stop Olunga. Additionally, as captain, Colley will also be leading the team on the pitch and his battle with Olunga will definitely be a key component of the match.Eric ‘Marcelo’ Ouma vs Yankuba MintehInside former Gor Mahia, AFC Leopards forward’s academy in Canada [VIDEO]One of the most anticipated high-octane duels will pit Kenya’s left-back Eric ‘Marcelo’ Ouma against Brighton & Hove Albion winger Yankuba Minteh.Minteh is perhaps the most lethal player in The Gambia squad with his quality emphasised by the fact that he plays regularly in the English Premier League.The 20-year-old has been in great form for Brighton and will be keen to replicate the same on international duty.##NAJAVA_MECA_8790107##For Harambee Stars, they could not wish for a better person to come against Minteh than Polish-based Ouma.The former Gor Mahia defender is equally fast and strong with a proven record of stopping high-profile wingers like Egypt’s Mohammed Salah and once again, the country will task him with stopping attacks from Minteh and if need be, overlapping to contribute to Kenya’s attack.Duke Abuya vs Ebrima AdamsMichael Olunga revels in Benni McCarthy’s young Harambee Stars squadWith Kenya Police midfielder Kenneth Muguna and Gor Mahia’s Austine Odhiambo not in the Kenyan squad, McCarthy will most likely call upon Duke Abuya to provide creativity in the middle of the park and supply Olunga upfront.Abuya is a proven playmaker plying his trade with Tanzanian giants Young Africans (Yanga) and has severally been of great service to Harambee Stars upfront.The former Kariobangi Sharks midfielder will be up against Derby County midfielder Ebrima Adams.##NAJAVA_MECA_8790100##Adams who is an experienced player both at club and national team level will also be tasked by McKinstry to dictate the tempo of the game. The winner of this battle will definitely aid his team in controlling the midfield.Brian Mandela vs Nuda BarrowExperienced Brian Mandela will be tasked with marshalling the Kenyan defense and keeping a clean sheet even as the team searches for a goal.Kenya yet to pay Ksh1.6 billion CHAN hosting fee to CAFMandela who plays for Stellenbosch at club level will be doing a task he is familiar with having made his debut for Kenya in 2011, making him the most experienced member of the squad.To help keep a clean sheet, Mandela will have to stop Al-Taawuon forward Musa Barrow who will be leading Gambia’s attack.Barrow who plied his trade in Italy with Atalanta and Bologna before moving to Saudi has scored 19 goals for Al-Taawuon since joining in 2023 and nine goals in his international career so far. He will be looking to reach double figures if he goes past Mandela.##NAJAVA_MECA_8790125##Eric Johana vs Joseph CeesayExperienced Eric Johana is a likely candidate to start in the left wing for Kenya, a position he has played severally for the country.As one of the few members of the team that competed in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Johana will rely on his experience to be a headache on Gambia’s defence from the flanks.The Romania-based attacker will battle it out with Lars Joseph Ceesay who plays for Cesena in the Italian second tier and will also be keen to contribute to Gambia’s attack on the overlap.
