Benni McCarthy: Why Egypt and Morocco Are Miles Ahead of Nigeria, South Africa, and Other African Teams

Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy has explained one key thing North African nations like Morocco and Egypt get right to stay ahead of other nations like South Africa and Nigeria in the battle for football supremacy.

Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy has delivered a brutally honest assessment of why North African giants like Egypt, Morocco, and Algeria continue to dominate African football — while traditional powerhouses such as Nigeria, South Africa, and other Sub-Saharan nations keep falling short.

Speaking candidly in a recent interview on Sporty TV, the South African legend did not hold back, pointing to a lack of structure, unstable team camps, and poor federation management as the root causes of the South’s and West’s underachievement on the continental and global stages.

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South Africa Finding Their Feet Slowly

McCarthy acknowledged the progress made by his native South Africa under Belgian coach Hugo Broos, crediting the team’s upward trajectory to continuity and stability.

“They’ve given him time to build the team. You can now see that continuity and consistency in the squad,” said McCarthy.

“Slowly but surely they’ve started climbing the ladder again.”

Broos, who has been in charge for over three years, has been praised for implementing a clear footballing philosophy and laying the groundwork for long-term success. South Africa even reached the semi finals of the 2023 African Cup of Nations.

However, McCarthy cautioned that deeper problems persist — especially within the football federation.

McCarthy: African Nations Need To Invest in Technical Centers

McCarthy didn’t mince words when pointing out a glaring gap between North African nations and the rest of the continent: infrastructure.

“When you're forever shifting where the team camps, there’s no settled base,” he lamented. “That’s where Morocco and Egypt got it right.”

He compared it to Europe, where countries boast permanent training centers. France has Clairefontaine, England has St George’s Park, and the Netherlands have Zeist — each serving as a central hub for the national team.

“When you have a base, players feel at home. You control the narrative, the discipline, everything,” said the coach.

By contrast, in much of Africa, national teams camp in hotels, which, according to McCarthy, leads to a lack of discipline and distraction.

At the moment, Kenya, who he is currently coaching are currently in the process of coming up with a technical center in Machakos under the stewardship of FKF President Hussein Mohammed.

“Footballers will always be footballers. They sneak out, go clubbing, partying — because there’s no control when you’re in a hotel.”

Nigeria & South Africa: Wasted Talent?

McCarthy was especially passionate when talking about the underperformance of Nigeria and South Africa, two nations brimming with elite-level talent.

“You can’t tell me with the players Nigeria have, they shouldn’t be top three in Africa or top 20 in the world,” he said. “But they’re struggling to qualify for the World Cup — it’s a shambles.”

South Africa, too, he argues, suffers from similar issues: no foundational structure, limited discipline enforcement, and unstable planning from their football federations.

So what sets Egypt, Morocco, and Algeria apart?

According to McCarthy, they’ve borrowed heavily from the European model — with well-run federations, permanent training camps, and a commitment to long-term discipline and culture building.

“They’ve got it right. We’ve not gotten there yet in West or Southern Africa,” he said.

“Only when that foundation is implemented will we see real progress.”

McCarthy's words are a wake-up call for federations across the continent. His message is clear: Talent alone is not enough. Without structure, discipline, and vision, Africa’s brightest footballing nations will continue to underachieve on the world stage.