Benni McCarthy confirms Kenya technical team remain unpaid

Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy has revealed that he and members of his technical team have not received their salaries, raising fresh concerns over the management of the Kenyan national team ahead of their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against South Africa.

The South African tactician said the situation remains unresolved, despite players receiving outstanding allowances following a payment dispute that disrupted preparations for Kenya’s opening qualifying matches against Eritrea and Guinea.

Speaking to Sporty TV, McCarthy disclosed that none of his technical staff had been paid and warned that football’s governing bodies, including FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF), could be forced to intervene if the matter is not resolved.

“The technical staff have received nothing,” McCarthy said.

He insisted that the relevant authorities must fulfil their financial obligations and pay the coaching team, although he maintained that the situation would not affect his commitment to the national team.

The former Manchester United forwards coach said his priority remains improving Kenyan football and leaving the national team in a better position than he found it.

The latest revelations come weeks after Harambee Stars’ preparations for the 2027 AFCON qualifiers were disrupted by a dispute over unpaid player allowances.

Ahead of their opening Group D fixture against Eritrea at the Nyayo National Stadium in September, players reportedly refused to train over delayed payments.

McCarthy revealed that he personally intervened to persuade the squad to return to training, with Kenya having just one training session before the match following the standoff.

He said he convinced the players to resume preparations on the eve of the game and subsequently urged them to honour their commitment to the national team.

The payment uncertainty also followed the team to Guinea for their second qualifying fixture, although most players eventually received their outstanding allowances after pressure was brought to bear on the Football Kenya Federation and the government.

Kenya must now turn its attention to a difficult away assignment against South Africa at Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg.

Harambee Stars have collected just one point from their opening two matches, following a 1-1 draw with Eritrea in Nairobi and a 1-0 defeat to Guinea away from home.

Beyond the financial challenges, McCarthy has also expressed concerns about his long-term future in international football.

The former South Africa international has previously indicated that he would prefer a return to club management, explaining that he misses the daily interaction with players and the opportunity to work closely with them on their development.

He believes international management limits his ability to make a lasting impact because of the short periods available to work with players during international breaks.

His frustrations have also been compounded by difficulties securing work permits for foreign members of his technical team.

McCarthy revealed that neither he nor some of his assistants had received the necessary documentation to work legally in Kenya, forcing them to leave the country after national team assignments.

The unresolved salary and work permit issues have added to the uncertainty surrounding the Harambee Stars’ technical set-up as Kenya continues its quest to qualify for the 2027 AFCON.