Benni McCarthy sets bold tone ahead of AFCON qualifier clash with South Africa

Kenya head coach Benni McCarthy has delivered a defiant message ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers, insisting he will not allow his side to suffer another heavy defeat when they face South Africa.

Kenya, one of the co-hosts of the 2027 tournament alongside Uganda and Tanzania, will still participate in the qualification series as part of Group D, where they have been drawn against South Africa, Guinea and Eritrea. Only one team from the group is expected to progress alongside McCarthy’s Harambee Stars.

The qualifiers are also expected to serve as a key part of Kenya’s preparation for the continental showpiece, offering McCarthy an opportunity to assess his squad and build cohesion ahead of the finals.

Speaking in an interview with Pulse Sports Kenya, the former South Africa international acknowledged the difficulty of the assignment, particularly if he comes up against his country of birth.

“We will do our best – we are most definitely targeting getting out of the group stages. And if we face Bafana Bafana, it will be tough, it will be really hard because for me, my heart is with Bafana,” McCarthy said.

“But of course, as a coach, you want to do the job for the country that you work for. So yeah, I want to do well, but I know it will be almost impossible for us,” he added.

McCarthy admitted that South Africa would likely enter the group as favourites, citing the higher level of competition in their domestic and international football structure. However, he stressed that organisation and determination could help bridge the gap.

“This is because the standard in South Africa is a much higher standard than in Kenya. But as I said, sometimes it’s not about how high your standards are,” he noted.

The 48-year-old also referenced past setbacks in his coaching career, saying he is determined to avoid another heavy defeat.

“It will be about the will power and how good and organised your teams are. And I think my team is pretty organised, and they will give everything. We definitely won’t lose 8-0 like we did against Senegal,” he said.