Brighton's Yankuba Minteh Shines as Gambia Stun Benni McCarthy's Harambee Stars at Kasarani

Kenya’s World Cup dream suffered a crushing blow on Friday afternoon after a ruthless Gambia side, led by Brighton wonderkid Yankuba Minteh, handed the Harambee Stars a 3-1 defeat at a stunned Kasarani Stadium.

The atmosphere was electric early on. Kenya came out of the blocks with intent—William Lenkupae almost sent the fans into raptures when he turned sharply in the box and unleashed a sweet half-volley that fizzed just wide. 

Moments later, Rooney Onyango swung in a teasing cross from the right, forcing the Gambian keeper into a smart claim. For the first ten minutes, Stars looked sharp, confident, and hungry.

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But football can be cruel. Against the run of play, Gambia drew first blood. A corner from Minteh—whipped in with venom—met Sheriff Sinyan, who rose highest to nod home and silence the crowd. Kasarani’s early optimism turned into a nervous hush.

Kenya thought they had hit back quickly when Emmanuel Osoro peeled wide and set up Timothy Ouma, whose neat finish had the net bulging—only for the flag to go up. And then came the sucker punch. A careless turnover in midfield gifted Gambia space, and Minteh, all pace and precision, punished them with a cool finish to double the lead.

The damage worsened before halftime. Ouma misplaced a pass, Minteh pounced again, and this time he turned provider, cutting it back for Musa Barrow, who lashed home his fifth goal of the qualifiers. 

At 3-0 down by the 35th minute, Benni McCarthy could only stand on the touchline, arms folded in disbelief.

To his credit, the South African coach acted quickly after the break. Off came Richard Odada and Timothy Ouma, on came Alpha Onyango and Manzur Okwaro—CHAN heroes tasked with sparking a revival. Later, the crowd erupted when teenage prospect Ryan Ogam was introduced, the Kasarani faithful desperate for a moment to cling onto.

And Ogam delivered. In the 81st minute, Sylvester Owino found space on the flank and squared it perfectly for the youngster, who slotted home calmly for his first senior international goal. It was a small victory, but one that lifted spirits.

By then, however, the damage was done. Gambia, clinical and disciplined, had already secured the points. Minteh, at just 20, looked every bit the Premier League star in the making, tormenting Kenya’s backline all evening.

For Kenya, it was a sobering reminder of how far they still have to go. Three games remain in the qualifiers, but the harsh reality is that their World Cup hopes are now little more than a mathematical possibility.