'Real Coaches Do Tactics, Not Empty Talk' - Engin Firat's Subtle Dig at Benni McCarthy After Kenya's Loss to Ivory Coast

Former Harambee Stars coach Engin Firat appeared to take a swipe at Benni McCarthy after Kenya’s 3-0 loss to the Ivory Coast in the return leg of the CAF World Cup qualifiers.

The match, held at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan, saw the Harambee Stars struggle to threaten despite their hopes of ending the campaign positively.

Franck Kessié opened the scoring in the seventh minute, before Yan Diomande and Manchester United’s Amad Diallo sealed a comfortable win for the hosts.

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After the defeat, Engin Firat made remarks that appeared to subtly lecture Benni McCarthy on how to handle his tactics when facing top-tier opposition.

Engin Firat was coaching Harambee Stars during the first leg of the match that was played at the Bingu National Stadium in Malawi in June 2024.

In a video posted on his Instagram account, the former Harambee Stars coach used an AI-generated voice to reflect on Kenya’s goalless draw against the Ivory Coast, seemingly taking a subtle jab at Benni McCarthy following the team’s recent defeat to the same opponent.

Through the clip, Firat appeared to highlight the difference between effective coaching and empty rhetoric, recalling how his side, made up largely of local players, executed a tactical game plan that neutralised the Ivory Coast’s strengths.

He seemed to emphasise the importance of preparation, structured play, and player confidence, pointing out that even top teams can be contained with clear strategy and discipline, a message that many interpreted as a veiled reminder to Benni McCarthy.

“Real coaches do tactics, not empty talk. No home game, no fans, but we found tactical solutions, not excuses. Ivory Coast had no clear chances, even with debutants, Kenya pressed hard, won the ball and exploded with fast transition,” the voice in the video said.

“Prepare your team with a clear game plan…even champions can be undone. Well-designed passing schemes will break through their pressing. We played mostly with local players against stars from top clubs, which also meant giving our players the mental support and confidence they needed.

“Our pressing, combined with counter pressing and compact blocks, denied Ivory Coast any clear scoring chance. Meanwhile, our well-prepared fast transitions created numerous opportunities. Though we missed them, we fully deserve the victory.”

Engin Firat accompanied the video with a pointed caption, recalling Harambee Stars' goalless draw against the African champions, and subtly contrasting it with the team’s recent struggles under Benni McCarthy.

He highlighted how his side had limited the Ivorians to no real scoring chances while creating several of their own, framing the performance as a triumph of discipline, pressing, and swift transitions.

Firat concluded by describing the result not merely as a draw, but as a ‘tactical statement,’ urging fans and critics alike to respect both the strategy and the team’s execution.