Benni McCarthy Sets Sights on Kenyan Prospects in Germany to Boost Harambee Stars

Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy is determined to ensure four German-based players become part of his squad ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

McCarthy, alongside Football Kenya Federation, have been on an aggressive drive to lure players born abroad but eligible to play for Kenya to form a strong AFCON 2027 team.

With Kenya co-hosting the tournament alongside Uganda and Tanzania, there is pressure on McCarthy to ensure Harambee Stars do not get embarrassed on home soil and the tactician has made it clear that the easiest path to success is to integrate as many players as possible either born or based abroad.

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The South African coach feels these players are exposed to the best conditions and will therefore lift the standards of his team and compete favourably at AFCON 2027. Having succeeded in convincing Zech Obiero, Clarke Oduor and Zak Vyner last month, McCarthy is also keen to ensure the four Kenyan eligible players in Germany become part of his team.

“I go and just try and keep up with the players that we have closer. I’m flying from here to Kenya,” McCarthy told South African outlet iDiski Times.

“From Kenya to Germany, because like I said, there’s a boy at Bayern Munich’s U21s, who is also training with the first team. There’s one at FC Cologne and another at Hoffenheim. And then there’s another one playing in Bundesliga Two,” he added.

McCarthy is referring to FC Koln forward Linton Maina, born in Berlin to a Kenyan father and a German mother, and has been on Kenya’s radar for long although he previously turned down a Harambee Stars call-up.

The 26-year-old has played for Germany at U16, U17, U18, U19 and U20 level but is yet to turn out for the senior team, making him eligible for Kenya if he has a change of heart.

The other one is winger Sadiki Chemwor, who has just signed for Eintracht Frankfurt from Bayern Munich and will join his new club on July 1, 2026 at the expiry of his contract with the Bavarian giants. Chemwor was born in Germany to a Kenyan father and has played three times for the German U17 team.

There is also US-born forward Andre Kenete Gitau, who plays for 1. FSV Mainz 05 II in the Regionalliga Sudwest and winger Maik Afri Akumu of FC Koln that McCarthy has set his eyes on.

“So yeah, we’ve got some top boys – about five – that if we can get and add to the team, things will improve. That’s high-quality players, decent standard. So yeah, the better team that you can recruit, the more chances we have to succeed,” McCarthy said of what he expects from the Kenyan prospects.