ANTALYA, Turkey – Kenya's Harambee Stars succumbed to a 1-0 defeat against Equatorial Guinea in an international friendly on Friday, November 14, 2025, at the Emir Complex in Antalya. The decisive moment came from a first-half penalty, converted by Jose Miranda, which proved enough to give the Central African nation a narrow victory in a tightly contested match. The result marks Equatorial Guinea's first-ever win over Kenya.

The match, which kicked off at 6:00 PM EAT, was a crucial test for a Kenyan side undergoing a significant transition under new head coach Benni McCarthy. McCarthy, appointed in March 2025, is tasked with building a competitive team for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which Kenya will co-host. This friendly was an opportunity to assess new talent, with several key players, including captain Michael Olunga, absent from the squad.

Coach McCarthy fielded a 4-4-2 formation featuring several fresh faces. Byrne Omondi of Gor Mahia started in goal, shielded by a backline of Rooney Onyango, Michael Kibwage, Sylvester Owino, and debutant Kevin Otiende from Nairobi United. The midfield was marshaled by captain Duke Abuya (Yanga SC), Marvin Nabwire (Kenya Police FC), William Lenkupae, and Boniface Muchiri. The striking partnership consisted of Scotland-based Jonah Ayunga and Austria-based Ryan Ogam.

Kenya began the match on the front foot, creating several early opportunities but failing to find the clinical finish. Ayunga had a notable chance midway through the first half, but his effort was saved by Equatorial Guinea's goalkeeper. Despite enjoying periods of possession, the Stars' attack lacked the final product.

The turning point came just before halftime when defender Rooney Onyango committed a foul inside the penalty area. Jose Miranda stepped up and confidently converted the spot-kick, sending keeper Byrne Omondi the wrong way to give the Nzalang Nacional the lead.

In the second half, Harambee Stars displayed more urgency and dominated possession as they searched for an equalizer. McCarthy made several tactical substitutions, introducing Ovella Ochieng and Austine Odhiambo to inject pace and creativity into the attack. The changes brought a renewed energy, but clear-cut chances remained elusive. A penalty appeal for a handball by a Guinean defender was waved away by the referee. Odhiambo had arguably the best opportunity to level the score in the 80th minute after being set up by Onyango, but his shot went over the bar.

This match was part of Kenya's preparations during the November FIFA international window, held in Turkey to be convenient for the European-based players of both Equatorial Guinea and Senegal. For Equatorial Guinea, the game served as a warm-up for their 2025 AFCON campaign in Morocco. The loss highlights the offensive challenges for McCarthy's squad as they build cohesion and experience.

Harambee Stars will have a short turnaround before their next fixture, a challenging encounter against the Lions of Teranga, Senegal, on Tuesday, November 18, at the same venue. That match will provide another stern test and a further opportunity for the new-look squad to prove their mettle under the new technical bench.