‘It’s Unfair’ - Benni McCarthy Reveals Main Headache Ahead of Harambee Stars’ CHAN 2024 Opener

Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy has explained what is giving him a hard time as he prepares for the CHAN 2024 opening match against DR Congo.

Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy has disclosed the tough job that he has on his hands when it comes to selecting his team for their opening match at the 2024 African Nations Championships.

Kenya will kick off their CHAN 2024 campaign with a tricky match against DR Congo on Sunday and need a good start to give them the best possible chance of advancing from a tough Group A that also has Morocco, Angola and Zambia.

McCarthy is delighted that their preparations have gone well but is now facing a big headache of selecting his first 11 as he admits everyone is ready for the match.

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“Come Sunday, the team will be ready but the headache now lies with me and other coaches on selecting the first 11. I would rather have those kinds of headaches than anything else,” McCarthy told the media on Wednesday.

Benni McCarthy Happy with Selection Headache

“But the team is ready, fit and healthy. The headache is really big but I think everyone has worked really hard and well. It is a little bit unfair that you can only pick 11 players to start the match but those are football rules.

“You have to field 11 players so I guess you are not going to be able to make everybody happy because so far, everybody has given me total respect, hard work and everything you can ask from a player as a coach.

“So, for me to select 11 players out of the whole group is a really tough job but that is why they pay us the money they do to make those kinds of decisions and disappoint some players that may feel they do not deserve to be on the bench, they should start the match also.”

The South African coach is hoping that his players can begin with a win and has urged them to excite home supporters but putting in an impressive performance.

“Come Sunday my technical team and myself will make the right decision because this nation deserves the best team that can go out there and fight for it and deliver the best football that they can and hopefully to be superior and better than our opponents,” he added.

Poor Start Does not Worry Harambee Stars Coach

“The importance of how good you start always sets you up nicely so the first game is extremely important but it is not the end of the world. Argentina for example in the Qatar 2022 World Cup lost their first match to Saudi Arabia, which was crucial, but they ended up winning the World Cup. So it is not the end of the world if your first game is a disaster but, in our case, hopefully not.’

With Kenya is what has been termed the ‘Group of Death,’ McCarthy is banking on home support and the confidence within his group to get them over the line and feels how they play in the first game will set the tone for how they approach the next matches.

“I am confident that the boys will be ready to give the best performance that Kenyans deserve so we will give everything to have our best match on Sunday because that sets you up nicely ahead of Angola, Morocco and Zambia to come because we are in the Group of Death,” said the former Manchester United first team coach.

Harambee Stars will play all their matches at Kasarani Stadium with the game against DR Congo taking place on Sunday evening.