Pitso Mosimane warns Benni McCarthy’s Kenya could pose a major threat in AFCON qualifiers

Pitso Mosimane has warned South Africa to expect a particularly difficult challenge from Benni McCarthy’s Kenya in their back-to-back Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Mosimane was speaking as the squad began training at Milpark Stadium in Johannesburg on Monday. He was asked how South Africa would approach the matches, with McCarthy having recently come under pressure.

The former Mamelodi Sundowns coach said uncertainty around a manager’s position could inspire players to produce an even stronger performance in support of their coach.

Mosimane also believes Kenya will be able to play without pressure because they have already qualified for the AFCON finals as hosts.

“When the future of the coach depends on the game, you’ve got to be very careful, sometimes the players will play for him,” said Mosimane.

“You can get the biggest surprise you can ever have. So, you need to be very careful when playing an emotional team, and especially when they have nothing to lose.

“They are already in the Cup of Nations finals. So, you need to be very careful of those, that’s what we’re doing.”

Mosimane said South Africa must also recognise McCarthy’s ability and experience, pointing to the former striker’s career at the highest levels of both playing and coaching.

He described McCarthy as a coach with a strong personality and a determination to succeed, qualities which could add to the challenge facing Bafana Bafana.

“Also, Benni, his personality, he has character of that will to win, the personality of fighting for his name in football,” Mosimane added.

“We have to respect the fact that he is a good coach. He was at Manchester United, a dream for every coach in South Africa, he was coaching [Cristiano] Ronaldo.

“He has personality to fight, he played at high level, he has [UEFA] Champions League [gold] medal.”

The comments come as South Africa prepare for two consecutive qualifiers against Kenya. Mosimane’s warning centred on the possibility that McCarthy’s players could respond strongly to the pressure surrounding their coach, while also benefiting from the freedom of having already secured their place at the finals.

For Mosimane, those circumstances make Kenya an opponent who cannot be underestimated, regardless of their qualification status.