Benni McCarthy, newly appointed as Kenya’s head coach, has set his sights on the 2026 World Cup, believing the Harambee Stars can “surprise a lot of people” by securing qualification.
McCarthy, 47, has signed a two-year contract, which will see him lead the team through the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, a tournament co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda in East Africa. He replaces interim coach Francis Kimanzi, who took over after Turkish coach Engin Firat stepped down at the end of 2024.
His first matches in charge will be World Cup qualifiers against The Gambia away and Gabon at home later this month.
“Qualifying for the World Cup is one of the most special feelings, and I want to give the players that opportunity,” McCarthy told BBC Sport Africa. “With the right mindset, dedication from the players, and a willingness to learn and give everything, I believe we can surprise many by qualifying for the World Cup.”
Currently, Kenya sits fourth in Group F with five points from four games, trailing leaders Ivory Coast by five points. Only the top team in each group automatically qualifies, while the four best runners-up will get another chance via playoffs.
McCarthy, who is South Africa’s all-time top scorer and represented his country at the 1998 and 2002 World Cups, is keen to lead Kenya to their first-ever World Cup appearance.
A Distinguished Playing Career
McCarthy’s name is well-known in African football, thanks to his successful playing career in Europe. He won league and cup titles with Ajax in the Netherlands and with José Mourinho’s Porto in Portugal, where he also lifted the 2004 UEFA Champions League trophy. McCarthy also had a five-year spell in the Premier League with Blackburn Rovers and West Ham before finishing his playing career with Orlando Pirates in South Africa.
He started his coaching journey as an assistant at Belgian club Sint-Truiden before taking managerial roles at Cape Town City and AmaZulu in South Africa.
