Benni McCarthy says Kenya coaching staff remain unpaid ahead of South Africa ties

Benni McCarthy says he and his Kenya coaching staff have still not been paid by the Football Kenya Federation, despite the players receiving some outstanding money after going on strike.

The former Bafana Bafana striker says he expects Fifa and the Confederation of African Football (Caf) eventually to intervene, but insists he and his staff continue to perform their duties professionally.

McCarthy took charge of Kenya in March 2025, alongside fellow South Africans Vasili Manousakis, Moeneeb Josephs and Pilela Maposa. The team have recorded mixed results during his time in charge.

Speaking to internet channel SportyTV, McCarthy said players had been owed salaries, bonuses and allowances from several previous camps. The coaching staff, he added, had received nothing.

“Nobody wants to come to camp and then you go on strike because players, coaches and technical staff haven’t been paid,” he said.

“Salaries, bonuses and allowances from three, four camps ago, already. And now, still, in every camp you come and people haven’t been paid.

“That’s why the players ended up coming together as a team and saying until they receive what’s owed to them by the federation, they are going to be reluctant to train and play.”

Kenya began their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign in late September and early October with a 1-1 home draw against Eritrea and a 1-0 defeat by Guinea.

They then drew 0-0 with Rwanda in Kigali during a camp in which they barely trained because of the strike.

“We went on strike for almost the whole camp, in which we had one training session and I had to convince the players to train the day before the Eritrea game,” McCarthy said.

“I wouldn’t allow the players to not play because I have never allowed that in my career.

“We did really well for a team that had not trained fully for one day. We didn’t get the win but we drew and missed 10, 15 opportunities.”

McCarthy said players later received allowances in stages after pressure was applied to the federation and the ministry, but that the technical staff remained unpaid.

“Obviously travelling to Guinea it was exactly the same, players waiting for what was happening. Eventually, in dribs and drabs, players ended up getting allowances because enough pressure was put on the federation and the ministry.

“But yeah, the technical staff, still nothing paid.”

The Harambee Stars, ranked 114th by Fifa, resume their Afcon Group D campaign against South Africa at Orlando Stadium on Friday at 18:00, before the teams meet again in Nairobi on Tuesday.

Kenya are co-hosts of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations with Uganda and Tanzania and therefore do not need to qualify. They are taking part in the qualifying competition for experience and competitive matches.

One of the remaining Group D teams South Africa, Guinea or Eritrea will progress to the tournament.

McCarthy said: “My job is always to go there and leave Kenya in a better position than I found them. The authorities, the Kenyan FA, will come good and they will have to pay.

“Obviously Fifa and Caf will intervene in these situations. But we are professional enough that when we go there we do our jobs.”