Kenya: Benni McCarthy wants to compete with Africa's giants

Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy has made his ambitions clear: he aims to close the gap separating Kenya from Africa’s football powerhouses. With the 2027 AFCON on the horizon, the South African tactician is betting on a project of continuous progress, despite heavy defeats in the past against the continent’s top teams.

Benni McCarthy has spoken about his work with the Kenyan national team. Despite the challenges, the Harambee Stars boss is determined to reach the summit. Reflecting on the crushing 8-0 defeat to Senegal in November 2025, McCarthy acknowledges the gulf in class but refuses to accept it as a permanent reality. For him, that match should serve as a benchmark in the rebuilding process for Kenyan football.

"We want to do better than we did in our last meeting against Senegal," he emphasized, stating that his team is making progress day by day.

The coach believes that the work done so far, especially the integration of young players, is starting to pay off. Recent friendlies against Estonia and Grenada, he says, are encouraging signs of this evolution.

A structured project despite absences

McCarthy does point out, however, that Kenya has yet to reach its full potential, mainly due to injuries sidelining key players like Michael Olunga and Eric Ouma. Nevertheless, he remains convinced that the return of these stars, combined with the rise of promising young talents, will allow the Harambee Stars to take a decisive step forward and permanently narrow the gap with Africa’s elite.

Nouya M'toama

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Versatile journalist specializing in sports and political news, with extensive experience across radio, print and digital media platforms.