Kenya Suffers Harambee Stars Heaviest Defeat in 47 Years

The 2026 FIFA World Cup-bound Senegal went on rampage to hammer Kenya 8-0 in an international friendly match staged at the Mardan Stadium in Antalya, Turkey on Tuesday, November 18, 2025. This was Kenya's heaviest loss in 47 years since their 9-0 annihilation by Zambia on Monday, 13 November 1978 in the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup. The final whistle confirmed what is now Benni McCarthy’s heaviest defeat as a coach, and one of the most lopsided losses Kenya has suffered in decades though still not surpassing the historic 13–2 defeat to Ghana in 1965 at Jamhuri Park. Both sides came into the match looking to recover from losses in their previous friendlies, with Kenya having fallen 1–0 to Equatorial Guinea on Friday while Senegal were smarting from a 2–0 defeat to Brazil. Harambee Stars closed their 2025 international calendar on a disappointing note with McCarthy's side put to the cleaners early on, falling 5-0 inside 30 minutes. Two times African Footballer of the Year winner Sadio Mané’s first-half hat-trick, Bayern Munich’s Nicolas Jackson brace, and goals from West Ham defender Malick Diouf, Mané in the second half and substitute Chérif Ndiaye ofTurkish Süper Lig club side Samsunspor sealed a comprehensive victory for the West African giants. The match marked Kenya’s final outing of the year. Their next engagement will come in March 2026 during the next international break, giving the technical bench time to regroup For Senegal, however, the dominant display offered a timely boost ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, which kicks off in Morocco next month.