Also known as: MCarthy · Head coach Benni McCarthy · Coach Benni McCarthy · Benny McCarthy
Harambee Stars head coach overseeing Kenya's 2027 AFCON qualifier campaign amid administrative and player welfare challenges.
News reports
Order a long-term news report on Benni McCarthy
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The Standard
… The draw has also set up an emotional reunion for Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy, who will come face-to-face with his native South Africa.McCarthy remains one of Bafana Bafana’s greatest football icons and the country’s all-time leading scorer after an illustrious playi …
McCarthy faces emotional South Africa reunionHarambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy said Kenya is not equipped to win the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, stating the team lacks the necessary resources and experience to compete with African powerhouses like Morocco, Egypt, Côte d'Ivoire, and Senegal. McCarthy emphasized that building a title-winning side requires time, infrastructure, and top-tier experience, not just financial investment.
8 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy said Kenya is not equipped to win the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, stating the team lacks the necessary resources and experience to compete with African powerhouses like Morocco, Egypt, Côte d'Ivoire, and Senegal. McCarthy emphasized that building a title-winning side requires time, infrastructure, and top-tier experience, not just financial investment.
8 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy has urged Kenyans to temper expectations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, saying Kenya lacks the resources and strength to compete with established powers like Morocco, Egypt, Côte d'Ivoire, and Senegal, despite home advantage as co-host with Uganda and Tanzania.
8 October 2026 · The Standard →
Kenya's Harambee Stars played out a goalless draw against Rwanda in an international friendly at Amahoro Stadium in Kigali on Monday, extending their recent goal drought as head coach Benni McCarthy fielded an experimental side with younger players.
5 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Kenya's Harambee Stars suffered a 1-0 defeat to Guinea in Conakry in a 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, leaving coach Benni McCarthy facing criticism after two matches without a win. The loss leaves Kenya with one point from their opening two Group D matches.
3 October 2026 · The Standard →
Harambee Stars fell 1-0 to Guinea in Conakry, remaining without a win after two matches in Group D of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The loss came days after a 1-1 draw against Eritrea at home.
1 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Harambee Stars travel to Conakry on Thursday to face Guinea in a 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, seeking to recover from a 1-1 draw with Eritrea in their opening match. Coach Benni McCarthy hopes improved preparation will help Kenya perform better against Guinea, who are also winless in Group D.
1 October 2026 · The Standard →
Kenya's Harambee Stars drew 1-1 with Eritrea in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations Group D opener at Nyayo Stadium, with a late Ryan Ogam goal equalizing Nahom Girmai's first-half strike. Poor preparations stemming from players' refusal to train over unpaid allowances left the national team with minimal collective preparation time before the match.
28 September 2026 · The Standard →
Harambee Stars were held to a 1-1 draw against Eritrea at Nyayo National Stadium in the opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. Eritrea took the lead before half-time through Nahom Girmai after a defensive error, but Kenya fought back with a late equalizer.
26 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Kenya will face Eritrea in their opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier at Nyayo Stadium, aiming to build momentum ahead of the tournament they will co-host with Uganda and Tanzania. Preparations have been disrupted by players declining to train over unpaid allowances, with only one collective training session held before the match.
26 September 2026 · The Standard →
Kenyan national team head coach Benni McCarthy says administrative dysfunction is preventing the recruitment of top international talent, and that bringing in seasoned professionals from elite foreign leagues is vital to raising the squad's standard and creating a learning environment for younger players.
26 September 2026 · The Standard →
Head coach Benni McCarthy confirmed that captain Michael Olunga is ruled out of Kenya's 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Eritrea due to fitness precautions, with McCarthy prioritising his full recovery following a recent return from a lengthy injury layoff.
25 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →
The Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports has confirmed settlement of all outstanding financial obligations owed to Harambee Stars players and technical bench staff, following head coach Benni McCarthy's public disclosures about long-overdue player allowances and administrative lapses within the national team.
24 September 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Kenya's head coach Benni McCarthy has exposed turmoil ahead of Saturday's 2027 AFCON qualifier against Eritrea, including unresolved work permit issues, unpaid allowances, and players withdrawing from international duty. Players reportedly refused to train after demanding payment and seeking answers from the Sports Ministry about their welfare.
23 September 2026 · The Standard →
Ghanaian football legend Asamoah Gyan has called on Kenya to invest more heavily in grassroots football, arguing that the country's emphasis on athletics has hindered football growth despite abundant local talent. Speaking at the Captain Irene Ndanu Super Cup finals at Nyayo National Stadium, Gyan said Kenya lacks strong youth development structures compared to Ghana and must strengthen these foundations to become a football powerhouse.
3 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Ghanaian football legend Asamoah Gyan has attributed Kenya's slow football progress to the country's emphasis on athletics and weak grassroots structures. Speaking at the Captain Irene Ndanu Super Cup final, Gyan said Kenya has talented players but lacks the foundational systems needed to develop young footballers into professionals.
2 August 2026 · The Standard →
With Kenya hosting Africa's biggest football tournament in June 2027, Football Kenya Federation coach Benni McCarthy is identifying diaspora players with Kenyan heritage to strengthen the Harambee Stars, including Real Sociedad winger Job Ochieng who made his LaLiga debut in February 2026.
30 June 2026 · The Standard →
Former Harambee Stars coach Twahir Muhiddin predicts the Kenyan Premier League will face stiffer competition when the new season kicks off in August, driven by players seeking to impress national team selectors ahead of AFCON 2027, which Kenya will host.
24 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Former Harambee Stars head coach Twahir Muhiddin predicts the Kenyan Premier League will face stiffer competition when the new season starts in August, driven by players seeking selection for AFCON 2027, which Kenya will host alongside Tanzania and Uganda.
24 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Kibera Black Stars head coach Iddi Badi attributed his team's ninth-place finish in the National Super League to their poor home record and inability to sustain winning runs, noting they collected better results away than at home despite finishing with 53 points.
15 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Kenya drew 1-1 with Lesotho in their first friendly match on Thursday and will face them again today in their second encounter, as part of preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers beginning in September. Coach Benni McCarthy is using the friendlies to build a competitive squad ahead of Kenya's group stage campaign alongside South Africa, Guinea, and Eritrea.
7 June 2026 · The Standard →
Kenya's Harambee Stars beat Lesotho 4-0 on Sunday in South Africa, a sharp rebound from a 1-1 draw three days earlier. Mohammed Bajaber scored twice in the victory, which saw Kenya control possession and limit Lesotho's attacking chances.
7 June 2026 · The Standard →
Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy acknowledged that his technical bench made an inexperienced mistake during Kenya's 1-1 draw against Lesotho in an international friendly at Lucas Moripe Stadium in Pretoria, South Africa. Kenya led early through Gor Mahia defender Frank Odhiambo but Lesotho equalized in the second half.
6 June 2026 · The Standard →
Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy said he was not entirely satisfied with Kenya's 1-1 draw against Lesotho in an international friendly in Pretoria, but acknowledged the match provided valuable lessons for his largely revamped squad with several first-time players.
5 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Kenya's Harambee Stars were held to a 1–1 draw by Lesotho in an international friendly at Moripe Stadium in Pretoria on Thursday, with Frank Odhiambo scoring for Kenya in the 17th minute and Thabo Makhele equalizing for Lesotho in the 70th. The sides will meet again on Sunday at the same venue.
4 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Kenya's national football team will face Lesotho in an international friendly at Lucas Moripe Stadium in Pretoria, with head coach Benni McCarthy using the match to test new faces ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Several players including defenders Deon Woodman and Sydney Agina, winger Sammy Hena-Kamau, striker Micah Obiero, and goalkeeper Caleb Kramer are set for their senior international debuts.
4 June 2026 · The Standard →
Defender Eric Ouma is back for Harambee Stars after nearly a year sidelined by a ruptured Achilles tendon, and will help guide a youthful squad against Lesotho in a friendly in South Africa on Thursday as Kenya prepares for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
3 June 2026 · The Standard →
Manzur Okwaro, a 20-year-old Kenya national team midfielder who moved to French Ligue 2 side Stade de Reims in January 2026, returned to his former high school, St. Anthony's Boys Kitale, where he received a grand welcome from students. Okwaro, who has been a constant selection under coach Benni McCarthy, is working to break into Reims' senior roster after initially being integrated into their Pro 2 squad.
29 May 2026 · The Standard →
Coach Benni McCarthy has unveiled a youthful squad for next month's international friendlies as Kenya prepares for 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Kenya are already assured a place at the tournament as co-hosts alongside Uganda and Tanzania, though the qualifiers remain important for McCarthy's rebuilding project.
21 May 2026 · The Standard →
Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania—co-hosts of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations—have automatic qualification to the finals but will still participate in the qualification campaign, according to CAF clarification.
19 May 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Kenya's Harambee Stars have been placed in Group D of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers alongside South Africa, Guinea, and Eritrea, following the draw in Cairo. Though Kenya has already secured automatic qualification as a co-host, the qualifiers will test the team's readiness ahead of the tournament, with head coach Benni McCarthy facing an emotional fixture against his former country South Africa.
19 May 2026 · Citizen Digital →