Harambee Stars hammer Grenada 3-0 for FIFA Series bronze

Naija sports fans, una don hear? Harambee Stars of Kenya don finally break dia bad run with one sweet victory for Rwanda. Dem hammer Grenada 3-0 for dat FIFA Series third-place play-off wey hold for Amahoro Stadium for Kigali. After dem draw with Estonia on Friday and lose for penalty shootout, dis win na like fresh air wey blow for Benni McCarthy and him boys.

Make I yarn you how di match go. From di beginning, Harambee Stars come show say dem mean business. Clarke Oduor nearly score inside two minutes, but him shot miss target. Grenada goalkeeper Thishawn Malcolm dey busy from early morning—Austine Odhiambo force am make save for free-kick after Bobby Williams foul Ryan Ogam. For Grenada side, Jeremiah Akins wan penalty after challenge from Michael Kibwage, but Tanzanian referee Ahmed Arajiga say no.

Di first goal come for 13th minute. Ogam turn well inside area, shoot, Malcolm parry di ball but no clear am well. Odhiambo dey there like say him dey wait, jam di rebound and fire home. One-zero for Kenya. Di second goal follow similar pattern—Duke Abuya shot block, rebound fall to Ben Stanley, him square pass to Ogam wey double di lead. Ogam don score two goals for dis tournament now.

Harambee Stars fit don score more for first half. Oduor get another chance for 23rd minute but waste am. Odhiambo hit post for 31st minute. Abuya shoot wide when him suppose pass to Ogam wey dey make run. Grenada no really threaten much—Faruk Shikhalo dey for Kenya goal but no serious work for him hand.

Second half, McCarthy make changes. Him bring Mohamed Bajaber, Alpha Onyango and Daniel Sakari for Stanley, Rooney Onyango and Chrispine Erambo. Bajaber nearly score immediately after Odhiambo back-heel pass, but him shot miss. Grenada try small—Jabari De Coteau force save from Shikhalo for 47th minute. But dat na di only real chance for dem.

More changes come. McCarthy bring Brian Bwire, Aboud Omar, Alphonce Omija and Zech Obiero for Ogam, Shikhalo, Austine Odhiambo and Frank Odhiambo. William Lenkupae later replace Oduor. Obiero, wey assist goal against Estonia, finally score him first international goal for 81st minute. Lenkupae lay pass to am, deflection confuse Malcolm, ball roll in. Three-zero.

Bajaber think say him score fourth for 88th minute but offside flag cut him joy. Match end 3-0. Dis win break four-match winless run for Harambee Stars—dem don lose to Senegal, Equatorial Guinea, Ivory Coast and Estonia before now. McCarthy use all 23 players wey him carry go Rwanda. Good sign for AFCON 2027 preparation.

For di other match wey hold same tournament, Rwanda and Estonia play draw 0-0. Di Estonia match no produce goal, but Harambee Stars own don put smile for fans face. McCarthy talk say him encourage by di showing against European opposition. Team dey build gradually.

Ogam and Odhiambo shine for di match. Obiero get goal to crown him debut tournament. Grenada, wey Rwanda hammer 4-0 on Friday, still dey find dia footing. Di FIFA Series don give teams like Kenya chance to test themselves against opposition from other continents. No be small tin.

Now, Harambee Stars go return home with bronze medal and renewed confidence. Di journey to AFCON 2027 still long, but dis kin performance fit be stepping stone. Fans dey watch. Benni McCarthy dey under microscope, but today, him get reason to breathe small.