Kenya’s freshly appointed head coach, Benni McCarthy, is enthusiastic about taking on the task of leading the Harambee Stars through their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches. Their first match will be against Gambia at the Alassane Ouattara Ebimpé Olympic Stadium on Thursday, March 20th, with kick-off scheduled for 9 PM.
Kenya has encountered a challenging beginning in Group F, managing only draws in their two vital matches against Burundi and Ivory Coast. At present, they sit in the fourth position, trailing behind leaders Ivory Coast by five points following four fixtures.
McCarthy, making his debut as leader of Kenya, openly expressed enthusiasm about what lies ahead.
"I'm excited to be involved in these qualifiers as the head coach for the first time. It’s a dynamic team, and I can’t wait to work with them as we tackle these challenges directly," he stated.
Despite having plenty of work ahead, McCarthy remains optimistic that the team can step up to the challenge.
"I believe there’s much work ahead of us, however, we are prepared to tackle this challenge collectively as a unit," he remarked.
This World Cup qualification campaign signifies a fresh start for the Harambee Stars, with McCarthy not embarking on this path solo.
The renowned South African football figure has assembled an entirely South African technical staff comprising goalkeeper coach Moeneeb Josephs, assistant coach Vasili Manousakis, and performance analyst Pilela Maposa.
This approach to management is not new to South Africans, as evidenced by figures like Pitso Mosimane and Rulani Mokwena who have formed their own 'superteams' in recent times.
McCarthy, whose contract ensures he remains with the national squad until 2027, has put together a group of dependable assistants who have enjoyed joint triumphs in previous times.
After spending time at La Masia FC in the ABC Motsepe League, Josephs has joined the Kenyan team. Meanwhile, Manousakis and Maposa have moved over from Cape Town Spurs and AmaZulu FC, respectively.
The quartet has collaborated extensively at AmaZulu FC, leading the team to their highest league position ever with a second-place finish in the Premier Soccer League (PSL). This also marked the club’s inaugural qualification for the CAF Champions League.
The achievements of the technical team under McCarthy are clear for all to see. They accomplished extraordinary things, with McCarthy himself being named PSL Coach of the Season due to AmaZulu’s groundbreaking season.
The experienced mentor also clinched the MTN8 title with Cape Town City in 2018, yet his latest position was as a forward coach under Erik ten Hag at Manchester United.
Following the departure of ex-head coach Engin Firat—who left after the Harambee Stars failed to secure a spot in the 2025 AFCON tournament in Morocco—McCarthy has been appointed as his successor.
Currently, with an entirely South African technical crew leading the way, the Harambee Stars are enthusiastic about turning over a new leaf and making their impact felt in the 2026 World Cup qualification rounds.