By Francis Onyach - Reporter
Kenya, June 07, 2026 - Harambee Stars produced an impressive performance on Sunday afternoon, defeating Lesotho 4-0 in an international friendly match played at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Pretoria, South Africa.
The victory came just three days after Kenya and Lesotho played out a 1-1 draw in the first of their two scheduled friendlies. In that earlier encounter, Frank Odhiambo had given Kenya the lead before Lesotho captain Thabo Makhele equalized in the second half.
This time, Benni McCarthy's men were far more clinical in front of goal as they delivered one of their most convincing performances under the South African coach.
The star of the afternoon was Mohammed Bajaber, who scored twice to continue his impressive rise in the national team setup. The Kenya Police FC midfielder opened the scoring before adding his second later in the match as Harambee Stars dominated proceedings from start to finish. Alongside him, Lawrence Okoth also grabbed a brace, ensuring Kenya ended the June international window on a high note.
The match served as an important opportunity for McCarthy to assess his squad ahead of future assignments, including preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. Kenya, alongside Uganda and Tanzania, will co-host the tournament but continues to use international friendlies to build a competitive squad and maintain match fitness.
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After expressing disappointment over missed chances in the first friendly, McCarthy was rewarded with a much-improved attacking display. Harambee Stars looked sharper in possession, created more opportunities, and were far more efficient in the final third than they had been in the 1-1 draw.
The result will provide a major confidence boost for the squad, especially for emerging players seeking to establish themselves in the national team. Bajaber's two-goal performance and Okoth's clinical finishing highlighted the growing attacking options available to the Harambee Stars coaching staff.
For Lesotho, the defeat was a disappointing end to the Pretoria double-header after they had managed to frustrate Kenya in the first meeting. However, the matches provided valuable preparation for both sides as they continue building toward upcoming continental competitions.
The 4-0 victory extends Kenya's positive run under Benni McCarthy and gives supporters plenty of reasons for optimism. With several young players stepping up and the team showing increasing tactical cohesion, Harambee Stars appear to be moving in the right direction as preparations for future international competitions gather momentum.