'If I’m Smart, I’ll Dig into That' – Benni McCarthy Lays Groundwork for Harambee Stars AFCON Dream

Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy has revealed a new strategy aimed at preparing Kenya to compete strongly at the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Kenya, alongside Uganda and Tanzania, will co-host the prestigious continental tournament, and Benni McCarthy has expressed his ambition to make the Harambee Stars genuine title contenders.

The national team has already shown signs of progress, notably during the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), where they reached the quarterfinals before being eliminated by Madagascar.

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Under Benni McCarthy’s leadership, Harambee Stars’ performances in the World Cup qualifiers have also been promising despite a few setbacks. Harambee Stars finished fourth in Group F with 12 points, behind Ivory Coast, Gabon, and The Gambia.

Benni McCarthy revealed that his time in charge of the Harambee Stars has taught him something new. He explained that he was discovering a wide network of players with Kenyan roots spread across the world.

The former Manchester United attacking coach noted that this has significantly expanded his pool of potential talent.

He added that he plans to identify and select the best-performing players from different leagues, regardless of where they are based, and integrate them into the national team to build a strong, well-balanced squad.

“Every single day, I learned something new about Kenya. I learned that they've got so many extended players all over the world, you know, that's got a Kenyan mother or Kenyan father, like with immediate ties to the country, and they play at respectable clubs in Europe throughout,” Benni McCarthy said on the Added Time Podcast.

“So, my pool of players has just gotten worldwide. So, of course, if I'm smart, I would really dig into that and see and take the best players I can take from wherever they are, whichever league they play in, based on their forms and everything, integrate them with the national team, and then yeah, just build a proper team.”

Speaking before the World Cup qualifier matches against Burundi and the Ivory Coast, Benni McCarthy admitted that qualifying for the upcoming World Cup seemed unlikely, acknowledging that the Ivory Coast and Gabon were far ahead in the standings and would likely secure the automatic qualification spots.

Benni McCarthy discussed that he would instead use the remaining matches as an opportunity to introduce new players to the squad and give them valuable experience at the international level.

The South African native emphasised that his main focus was on preparing for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, where Kenya, as the host nation, aims to make a strong impression.

“I think for World Cup qualifications now it's a little bit out of our reach because I think the Ivory Coast and Gabon are just out of reach for everybody, and it's those two countries that are fighting it out that're going to qualify automatically for the World Cup,” he added.

“I can take the opportunity now to integrate new players into the squad and give them a taste of the international football World Cup qualifiers. But the main goal is the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. Kenya is the host of the tournament.”

Benni McCarthy added that he is encouraged by the positive developments taking place in Kenya, noting that the country had invested heavily in new stadiums and infrastructure ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

He explained that these improvements, combined with the progress shown by local players during the CHAN tournament, provide the perfect foundation to begin building a competitive national team.

McCarthy added that there was now a strong sense of unity and national pride, with the country rallying behind the Harambee Stars.

He said his goal was not just for Kenya to host and participate in the 2027 AFCON, but to compete at a high level, aiming for a place in the quarterfinals, semifinals, or even the final.

“So we've got brand new stadiums that have been built. We’ve got so many positive things happening. So yeah, you want to start building for the 2027 AFCON and the success that we had over Chan with all the local players, you want to build on from there,” he added.

“Now the country has become united, and they are behind the national team. Come 2027, you don't just host the tournament and participate, but you are actually setting a strong claim for getting to the quarterfinals, semi-finals, or even getting to a final. So I have two years basically now to build a really proper, strong Kenyan national team.”

Benni McCarthy’s vision for the Harambee Stars goes beyond short-term results. With Kenya set to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, the South African coach is focused on building a united and competitive team capable of challenging the continent’s best.