The newly appointed coach of Harambee Stars, Benni McCarthy, believes that Kenya still has a fighting chance to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
The 47-year-old was officially introduced as the head coach of the East African nation after signing a contract that extends until the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. McCarthy’s inaugural task will be World Cup qualifying matches against Gambia away on March 17, followed by a home fixture against Gabon on March 24.
Kenya’s qualification journey began with a 2-1 defeat to Gabon but saw a resurgence with a 5-0 victory over Seychelles, a 1-1 draw with Burundi, and a crucial goalless draw against reigning African champions Ivory Coast.
Currently, Kenya sits fourth in Group F with five points, trailing leaders Ivory Coast by five points, while Gabon holds second place with nine points and Burundi is in third with seven points.
In discussing Kenya’s prospects for qualification, the former Bafana Bafana striker expressed optimism, stating that he remained hopeful. He believes that with a strong performance, the East African nation could still qualify and make its maiden appearance at the global tournament.
“It’s within our reach; if we can win both matches, we’ll accumulate 11 points and close the gap at the top. Despite the challenges, I refuse to lose hope—nothing is impossible. By the end of the qualifiers, we could potentially overtake Ivory Coast, and I’m optimistic about our chances.”
Kenya is set to co-host the 2024 Africa Nations Championships (CHAN) alongside Uganda and Tanzania. When asked about his objectives for the tournament, McCarthy, who previously served as an assistant coach at Manchester United, replied, “We aim to secure every possible point. While I’m not claiming it will be easy, I believe with the talent we possess, it can be done.”
“We need to maintain a positive outlook, and the players must recognise that the coaches with whom they are working are committed to winning every match.”
McCarthy added: “As we prepare for the 2024 CHAN, hosted in Kenya, we want to showcase our skills and represent ourselves well. Our goal is to succeed—not to fail. We are aiming for the semi-finals and hopefully even the final; I believe with hard work, we can achieve this.”
On his vision for the Harambee Stars, he stated: “My goal is to establish Kenya as the premier team in East Africa. I strongly believe that if we can strengthen the national team, Kenya can progress significantly. It’s about igniting passion among our supporters; they want to see a team that reflects their love for the country, which has been lacking so far.”
“The way we intend to work and the objectives we are setting will surprise people. With the team I’m bringing on board, I truly believe nothing will hinder our success and the happiness of our fans.”
When questioned about his plans for fostering young talent in the country, McCarthy, who clinched the UEFA Champions League with Porto, elaborated: “I am a firm believer in giving young players opportunities. Age is not a barrier for me, and I don’t understand why we should exclude younger players—I always give them chances, and I will continue to do so.”
“I aim to invest time getting to know the coaches within the FKF Premier League to foster collaboration for developing young talents. A solid relationship between youth coaches and the national team coaches is essential for nurturing players who can someday represent Harambee Stars at an elite level.”
Regarding his decision to choose Kenya over other coaching offers, the South African explained: “I opted for Kenya due to the transparency shown by FKF; they were open and straightforward, which is often a rarity in African football.”
“Having grown up in Africa, I am familiar with the challenges, but I have also learned effective methods of operation. I aim to ensure the players understand the importance of hard work in achieving success, which was assured by both the FKF president and vice-president.”
He continued: “Currently, my family is in the UK and they are struggling with the cold, whereas I wish to stay here as long as possible. I intend to watch local matches and connect with players abroad, ensuring they do not feel overlooked. When they arrive for camp, I want them to be in good spirits, which will contribute to positive results.”
Mohammed outlines why McCarthy was chosen for Kenya
FKF President Hussein Mohammed elaborated on the decision to appoint McCarthy, succeeding Turkish coach Engin Firat, who left after failing to lead Harambee Stars to the 35th edition of the 2025 AFCON tournament in Morocco.
“We had several candidates for the role, and we had to determine who would best lead us forward. In the end, McCarthy’s experience and proven track record in Europe and Africa as both a player and a coach made him the ideal choice.”
Mohammed continued: “McCarthy has played in AFCON and World Cup competitions, and with Kenya yet to qualify for a World Cup, his expertise and success—such as winning the Champions League—will be crucial. We’re confident he can guide us to both AFCON and World Cup appearances.”
“He possesses the necessary drive and passion; he’s a coach who is committed to doing things the right way. He understands Kenya, and we took into account his skill set and experiences, which makes him the right fit for our needs.”
When asked about the FKF’s plans to ensure prompt payment to McCarthy, thereby avoiding issues faced by previous coaching regimes, Mohammed stated: “The responsibility for funding the national team rests with the government, which will manage the financial aspects.”
“Although we’ve faced challenges with coaches claiming unpaid wages in the past, I’m confident that our collaboration with the government will prevent such issues moving forward.”
Mohammed assured that McCarthy would have the autonomy to manage the team without interference from the federation.
“FKF will not interfere in national team matters. We are committed to providing all necessary support, but we will not dictate to McCarthy regarding player selections or tactics on match day. He will be given free rein to do his job,” stated Mohammed.
“This is a long journey that has just begun, so I urge Kenyans to be patient. We are dedicated to our mission and have the backing of both the government and sponsors ready to support our initiatives.”
McCarthy will be supported by Vasili Manoussaki, Joseph Moeneb (goalkeeper coach), and Pilela Maposa (performance analyst).
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
Fanpage: SportArena.com.au.
LiveScore – Live Sports Results & Odds.
