‘Sleeping Giant!’ – Benni McCarthy Unveils Key Plan to Propel Harambee Stars to 2027 AFCON Final

Benni McCarthy has oullined his plan to make sure Kenya reaches at least the semi-finals of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in two-years' time.

Benni McCarthy has opened up about the tough, yet invigorating start to his tenure as head coach of the Kenya national football team, revealing his vision to guide the Harambee Stars to unprecedented success — including a dream run to the final of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which Kenya will co-host.

McCarthy was unveiled as new coach to take over from Engin Firat in March and took charge of his first two matches against Gambia and Gabon in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Kenya drew 3-3 with Gambia, before losing 2-1 to a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang-inspired Gabon at home in what was the side’s first game hosted on home soil since September 2023.

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The Transition Has Not Been Easy -  Benni McCarthy

Speaking candidly on SportyTV about the challenges he faced stepping into the role, McCarthy admitted that the transition was far from smooth.

“Yeah, listen — it hasn’t been easy coming in. I had just two weeks after joining the national team, and only four days to prepare with players I had never met before. I’d only seen them on video. But honestly, it's been refreshing,” he said.

Despite the time crunch, the South African football icon embraced the challenge, drawing from his vast playing and coaching experience across the continent and on the world stage.

“I live, eat, sleep, and breathe football. I welcomed the challenge. When I got there, I just leaned on my experience — the little knowledge I have about playing in Africa, playing in the World Cup, and going through the qualifiers. That’s the message I tried to pass on to the players.”

Even with limited time to implement his philosophy ahead of crucial qualifiers against Gabon and Gambia, McCarthy said the players quickly responded to his energy and ambition.

“I think they looked at me with this sense of, ‘Wow, we want to experience that too.’ And that’s how I got them to fight and play the way I wanted. Unfortunately, the time was just too limited… So the results weren’t what we hoped for.”

But it wasn’t all frustration. What McCarthy saw in the squad left him excited for the future.

“The quality and potential in this team is really exciting,” he said.

The former Manchester United assistant coach got his first win in charge of the side in a friendly against Chad in Morocco last June, having relied on a core of local-based players with an eye on preparing the side for the upcoming African Nations Championships (CHAN) 2024 which Kenya will co-host alongside Uganda and Tanzania.

Rising Stars Gave Me Hope For Future- McCarthy

And it doesn’t stop with the senior team. McCarthy praised the promising talent coming through the youth ranks, especially after watching the Rising Stars team during the recent U20 African Nations Cup.

“There are some really good young players coming through, and now I have a strong group to work with. That gives me hope.”

While acknowledging that Kenya’s chances of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup remain slim, McCarthy made it clear where his sights are truly set.

“We’re hosting the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. That’s where my full focus is. I want to build the best team possible and bring in the best young players so that when the tournament comes to Kenya, we’re not just participating — we’re competing. Reaching a semifinal or even a final is the goal.”

McCarthy finished with a passionate declaration of belief in the team and his mission:

“Kenya is a sleeping giant waiting to wake up, and I hope I’m the one who helps wake this team up.”