Kenya head coach Benni McCarthy has sent a stern warning to his players ahead of their African Nations Championship clash against Morocco on Sunday.
The Harambee Stars sit top of Group A after a win and a draw in their opening two encounters this past week.
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Despite the promising start, which includes a win over DR Congo, McCarthy has bemoaned the fact that his players still have nerves.
“The mistake is what is costing us. We are causing ourselves a lot of pain because players are still getting nervous,” McCarthy said, as per Mozzart Sport.
“I understand the occasion is big, but players now have to take control. In the first half, we looked extremely nervous.
"In the second half, everyone calms down and plays accordingly, but in football, you cannot play for 45 minutes and not for the other 45.
“Whoever is in the squad must understand that they have made it to the pinnacle of elite football. You cannot still be like someone who has never walked onto a football pitch before or never seen a stadium full of people. That is what my team is doing, and it is very costly.
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“Even against DRC, we could have easily been a goal or two down before we got into the game. Now in the second match, we make the same mistake, like an eight-year-old going to school and getting punished.
"I don’t know how we will learn, but with my technical bench, we must change this because the team can play.”
