Harambee Stars midfielder Kenneth Muguna has argued that Kenyan fans share some responsibility for the team's humiliating 8-0 defeat to Senegal in an international friendly match played on November 18, 2025, in Antalya, Turkey. According to Muguna, following Harambee Stars' 3-1 loss to Gambia in an AFCON qualifier earlier in November, fans heavily criticized head coach Benni McCarthy's decision to field experienced players like captain Michael Olunga. This backlash, he claims, influenced the team's lineup choices for subsequent friendlies, including the omission of key veterans against Senegal, which exposed the squad's vulnerabilities and led to the lopsided result.
In his comments, Muguna stated: “After our match against Gambia, fans questioned Coach Benni's decision of including experienced players. Now you see why those players are important in the National team setup. Hate or love me, I'll always be real.” He further emphasized unity, adding: “Who cares Nani anacheza bro [Who cares about who plays, bro]. Even if I don't play again for Kenya, it's not a problem. We are all fans of the National team, and we want what's best for the country, that's it.” Muguna, a former Kenya Police FC player who featured in the Senegal match, did not play in the prior 1-0 friendly loss to Equatorial Guinea on November 14.The Senegal game saw the Teranga Lions dominate, with Sadio Mané scoring a hat-trick, Nicolas Jackson netting a brace, and additional goals from Malick Diouf, Ibrahima Mbaye, and Cherif Ndiaye. The defeat, one of the heaviest in Kenyan football history, prompted widespread backlash against McCarthy's tactics, squad selection (which favored inexperienced players), and overall preparation. Football Kenya Federation President Hussein Mohammed issued a public apology, while figures like FKF Deputy President McDonald Mariga called it a "harsh lesson" on elite-level demands. No recent X posts from Muguna's account directly address this topic.