Jonah Ayunga delivered a standout performance on Saturday, sending a strong message to Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy as his impressive display helped St. Mirren cruise to a 5-1 victory over Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership.
Fresh off his substitute appearances for Kenya against The Gambia and Gabon last week, Ayunga was handed a starting role ahead of Michael Mandron and he seized the opportunity with both hands.
The forward registered two assists, showcasing his creativity and awareness, while also proving a menace off the ball. He won four of his ten ground duels, made two tackles and interceptions, and even won a penalty, underlining his ability to unsettle defences.
With four goal contributions in just seven starts this season, Ayunga is steadily making his mark under Steve Robinson and will be eager to build on this momentum.
St. Mirren’s victory was their first in 12 meetings against Kilmarnock, and they made sure to do it in style.
Caolan Boyd-Munce got things rolling with a long-range strike, before Roland Idowu doubled the lead from the penalty spot after Ayunga was brought down by Lewis Mayo.
The second half saw Boyd-Munce grab his brace, while Mark O’Hara and Declan John also found the net, putting the game well beyond reach. Bruce Anderson’s late penalty was little more than a consolation for the visitors.
With this dominant win, St. Mirren bolstered their hopes of securing a top-six finish for the third consecutive season an objective that looks more achievable with Ayunga’s growing influence.
Ayunga’s performance will no doubt have caught McCarthy’s attention, and with another strong run of form, he could be pushing Michael Olunga for a starting spot in Kenya’s attack ahead of the next international break in June.
Olunga, despite his 11 goals in 16 Qatari Stars League games this season, has struggled with inconsistency at the international level, though he did find the net in both of Kenya’s last two matches.
Should Ayunga continue to prove his effectiveness for St Mirren, McCarthy will have a selection headache when naming his next squad.
