Harambee Stars were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw against Lesotho in an international friendly match played at Moripe Stadium in Pretoria, South Africa, on Thursday afternoon.
The match formed part of Kenya’s preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers, with head coach Benni McCarthy using the fixture to assess his squad ahead of upcoming competitive assignments.
Kenya made a bright start and controlled possession for large periods of the opening half. Their dominance paid off in the 17th minute when Gor Mahia defender Frank Odhiambo unleashed a powerful right-footed strike that flew into the upper corner of the net, leaving Lesotho goalkeeper Sekhoane Moerane with no chance.
The goal handed Harambee Stars a deserved lead and gave the East Africans momentum as they looked to secure their first victory over Lesotho since 1993.
Despite several promising attacks, Kenya failed to add a second goal before halftime and went into the break holding a narrow 1-0 advantage.
Lesotho returned with renewed energy in the second half and gradually increased the pressure on the Kenyan defence.
Their persistence paid off in the 70th minute when Thabo Makhele rose highest to head home the equaliser, restoring parity and frustrating Kenya’s hopes of ending their long wait for a win over the Southern African nation.
Both teams created chances in the closing stages, but neither side could find the decisive goal as the contest ended in a 1-1 draw.
While the result denied Benni McCarthy his first victory over Lesotho as Kenya coach, Harambee Stars extended their unbeaten run, which stretches back to their 3-0 victory over Grenada in March.
The two sides are scheduled to meet again on Sunday at the same venue, giving Kenya another opportunity to test themselves and fine-tune preparations ahead of future assignments.
Kenya, alongside Uganda and Tanzania, have already secured automatic qualification for the 2027 AFCON tournament as co-hosts. However, the three nations will still participate in the qualification campaign to remain competitive and maintain match fitness ahead of the continental showpiece.
McCarthy will be encouraged by sections of his team’s performance, particularly their control of possession and defensive organisation for much of the game, but he will also be keen to address the lapses that allowed Lesotho back into the contest.
With another friendly encounter just days away, Harambee Stars will be aiming to convert their dominance into victory and continue building momentum as preparations for AFCON 2027 gather pace.