South African football legend Benni McCarthy is expected in the country by the end of the week to officially take over as the new Harambee S...
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South African football legend Benni McCarthy is expected in the country by the end of the week to officially take over as the new Harambee Stars head coach, Nation Sport understands.
According to a senior Football Kenya Federation (FKF) official, McCarthy, who is South Africa’s all-time top scorer with 31 goals, will replace acting coach Francis Kimanzi.His first assignment will be the crucial 2026 World Cup Group ‘F’ qualifier against Gabon on March 24 at Nyayo National Stadium.
“We have a new coach, Benni McCarthy, who will be taking over the team and is expected to arrive in the country before the end of the week. He is a qualified coach who we believe can help steer the national team to prosperity,” said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity yesterday, according to NTV
“Our aim is to build a good team that will take Kenya back to the glory days, and everything will be done based on merit, including selection to the national team,” he added.
Unlike previous foreign coaches, McCarthy will not bring his backroom staff. Instead, the current coaching team will be retained, but relegated to the technical bench to support him.
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Kimanzi has been serving in an interim capacity following the resignation of Turkish tactician Engin Firat on December 11, 2024, who quit due to non-payment of salary arrears.
“This time, we have got it right, and the finer details of the agreement will be released soon, but he is our new coach, and we expect him to build a competitive team,” added the FKF official.
McCarthy’s appointment comes at a crucial time, with the World Cup qualifiers against Gambia and Gabon on 17 and 24 March, respectively.
The Harambee Stars missed out on qualification for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Morocco and currently sit fourth in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying group, with five points from four matches.
“As the president mentioned earlier, Francis Kimanzi was only an interim coach. The new head coach will be in charge of the matches against Gabon and Gambia. After his unveiling, he will work alongside several identified local coaches to prepare for the games. We need to be ready to compete,” the source added.
There is still uncertainty regarding whether McCarthy will also handle the CHAN tournament in August or if local coaches will take charge of those games.
“This time, we have got it right, and the finer details of the agreement will be released soon, but he is our new coach, and we expect him to build a competitive team,” added the FKF official.
McCarthy’s appointment comes at a crucial time, with the World Cup qualifiers against Gambia and Gabon on 17 and 24 March, respectively.
The Harambee Stars missed out on qualification for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Morocco and currently sit fourth in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying group, with five points from four matches.
“As the president mentioned earlier, Francis Kimanzi was only an interim coach. The new head coach will be in charge of the matches against Gabon and Gambia. After his unveiling, he will work alongside several identified local coaches to prepare for the games. We need to be ready to compete,” the source added.
There is still uncertainty regarding whether McCarthy will also handle the CHAN tournament in August or if local coaches will take charge of those games.
Benni McCarthy’s appointment is seen as a significant step for Kenya, a nation eager to reclaim its stature in African football.
McCarthy’s coaching CV also includes managerial stints in South Africa’s PSL with Cape Town City FC and AmaZulu FC. McCarthy, now 47, played 79 matches for Bafana Bafana between 1997 and 2012, scoring a record 31 goals.
According to online sources, McCarthy made his full international debut for South Africa in a friendly against the Netherlands on 4 June 1997.
Along with veteran Egyptian striker Hossam Hassan, McCarthy was the joint top scorer in the 1998 African Cup of Nations in Burkina Faso with seven goals, including four in 13 minutes against Namibia. In addition, he was named Player of the Tournament.
The 1998 FIFA World Cup in France was the first time South Africa's national football team had reached the later stages of the competition, and McCarthy was one of their key players.
McCarthy’s coaching CV also includes managerial stints in South Africa’s PSL with Cape Town City FC and AmaZulu FC. McCarthy, now 47, played 79 matches for Bafana Bafana between 1997 and 2012, scoring a record 31 goals.
According to online sources, McCarthy made his full international debut for South Africa in a friendly against the Netherlands on 4 June 1997.
Along with veteran Egyptian striker Hossam Hassan, McCarthy was the joint top scorer in the 1998 African Cup of Nations in Burkina Faso with seven goals, including four in 13 minutes against Namibia. In addition, he was named Player of the Tournament.
The 1998 FIFA World Cup in France was the first time South Africa's national football team had reached the later stages of the competition, and McCarthy was one of their key players.
After a 3–0 defeat against eventual champions France, South Africa played their second match against Denmark. Trailing since the 13th minute, McCarthy tied the game at 1–1 in the 52nd minute and gave South Africa a chance for qualification after a 1–1 draw.
However, the third match also ended in a draw, against Saudi Arabia, which left the South Africans in third place and eliminated from the competition. - Online Sources
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