Harambee Stars' Lewis Mbadi works-out with his teammates at Police Sacco Stadium in South C, Nairobi, on July 30, 2025
Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy is set to become the first South African to lead the national team of another African country at a major continental tournament.
Before McCarthy, only four other South Africans -- April Phumo, Thabo Senong, Ephraim Mashaba and Moses Maliehe -- had coached a foreign national team, but not in an Africa Cup of Nations or African Nations Championship final.
"I am grateful for the career that I have had, and I being here is not just for South African football. I am a young coach, and I want to show people that they can also get to this level if they believe in themselves. I am happy to be working here and helping young players gain experience to be better players," said McCarthy yesterday during Kenya’s open training session at Police Sacco Stadium.
Harambee Stars open their campaign against two-time winners DR Congo in a Group “A” fixture on Sunday from 3pm at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.
The delayed 2024 will be jointly staged in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda from August 2 to August 30.
McCarthy said Harambee Stars were ready for the challenge in their inaugural Chan finals.
Other teams in the group are 2011 runners-up Angola, two-time champions Morocco, and Zambia, who finished third at Chan 2009.
While McCarthy believes that winning their first match of Chan 2024 will boost Harambee Stars' chances of progressing beyond this so-called “Group of Death”, a setback will not mean the end of the world.
"It is important that we have the right mindset so that we bounce back from challenges that may arise," the 47-year-old ex-Manchester United coach said.
If Harambee Stars progress to the knock-out stages, they may meet South Africa, but McCarthy sees the match against his motherland like any other match.
"This is football, and the match will be just like any other. There is no time for things of sentimental value before the match. We all want to win. After the match, we can go back to being friends and colleagues," said McCarthy.
McCarthy and Harambee Stars have already had their fair share of distractions and setbacks in preparations.
Harambee Stars coach Bennie McCarthy during the tram's training session at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, July 16, 2025
First, the squad was hit by the withdrawals of Kakamega Homeboyz’s Moses Shumah and FC Talanta’s Emmanuel Osoro, who were last season's FKF Premier League top scorers with 17 and 16 goals respectively.
The duo have since transferred to Zambia's Power Dynamos, becoming ineligible to represent Kenya.
Only players plying their trade in their country's domestic leagues are eligible to feature in the championship.
Later, Harambee Stars withdrew from the Cecafa Four Nations tournament in controversial circumstances. The tournament took place in Tanzania from July 21 to July 27.
Kenya cited sub-standard accommodation and training facilities for their withdrawal.
Just a couple of days ago, Stars were jolted by the exit of fast-rising forward Mohammed Bajaber, who signed for Tanzanian giants Simba SC, plus injury-enforced withdrawals.
"Bajaber had a grade two tear in his thigh muscle. It was going to be a gamble to keep him in the team because he would only have been available after the group stages. We would be playing a man less, and that would have been risky," McCarthy said.
"Bajaber is a player I really like. He is loyal to this team, and he would have been valuable to us. Releasing him gives him time to focus on his recovery and move to his new club," McCarthy added.
Kenya Police midfielder Brian Musa has a hamstring injury, while medical tests revealed that 23-year-old Bandari defender Pamba Swaleh has a heart defect.
McCarthy thus called up three new players -- Shabana winger Brian Michira, Tusker midfielder Chrispine Erambo, and Sofapaka.
Kenya will be captained by Police defender Abud Omar, who at 32 is the team's oldest member.
Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy during the team's training session at Nyayo National Stadium on July 23, 2025
Omar described the transfers of Shumah, Osoro, and Bajaber to foreign clubs as "bittersweet".
"We are sad to see them go because they are good players who would have helped us but we have quality to replace them. We are happy that they have secured moves that advance their career."
Omar, together with Bandari goalkeeper Faruk Shikhalo and Migori Youth forward Masoud Juma, featured at the 2019 Afcon 2019, the last major tournament Harambee Stars qualified for before the 2024 Chan.
This will be Kenya’s first appearance in the finals of the 16-year-old biennial tournament.
