Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has officially unveiled Benedict Saul McCarthy commonly referred to as Benni McCarthy as the new Harambee Stars head coach, signaling a fresh chapter in Kenya’s footballing ambitions. McCarthy, a decorated former South African striker, was introduced to the media at Nairobi’s Serena Hotel, where FKF President Hussein Mohammed outlined the key objectives of his tenure.
The 47-year-old coach has been handed a contract running until the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which Kenya is set to co-host alongside Tanzania and Uganda. His primary mandate is to navigate Kenya’s challenging qualification campaign for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and to build a formidable squad for AFCON 2027.
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“After a rigorous selection process, we are confident that Benni McCarthy is the right person to lead our national team forward. His experience, vision, and commitment to developing Kenyan football align perfectly with our ambitions,” said Hussein Mohammed.
McCarthy’s coaching pedigree includes a stint at Manchester United as a first-team coach under Erik ten Hag, as well as successful spells managing South African clubs Cape Town City and AmaZulu. His appointment comes at a crucial time, with Harambee Stars trailing Group F leaders Ivory Coast by five points in the World Cup qualifiers, making upcoming matches against The Gambia and Gabon critical to their campaign.
With high expectations from Kenyan football fans, McCarthy expressed his confidence in revitalizing the national team. “With all that experience achieved, I want to put that into practice and make this national team a success,” he said.
