Is coach Benni McCarthy the right man to take Kenya’s Harambee Stars to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations finals? Do Kenyan players have the quality to be competitive at their home Afcon in June and July next year?
These are the questions Kenyan fans are asking as Stars’ struggles in the Afcon qualifiers continued with a 1-0 loss to Guinea in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in their Group 'D' match in Conakry on Thursday evening the latest misstep.
Borussia Dortmund striker Serhou Guirassy scored the lone goal of the match in the 32nd minute to give the Syli National the crucial win they desired. The Kenyan defence failed to deal with a dangerous ball into the box, allowing the 30-year-old forward to pounce and score from close range.
Five days earlier, Harambee Stars had been held to a disappointing 1-1 draw by lowly Eritrea at Nyayo National Stadium.
Despite the loss in Conakry, McCarthy, 48, said he was proud of his players for limiting Guinea to a narrow victory.
“People had expected us to lose by three, four or five goals but I’m proud of my players for the fight. Guinea were very fortunate that we didn’t make use of the opportunity we created,” said McCarthy.
“We created some heavy moments for them but unfortunately in the final third we lacked the experience but I’m proud of the players for the fight,” he added.
The former Bafana Bafana striker also criticised the referee, claiming he was biased and insisted Guinea’s goal would not have stood had VAR been available.
“The referee didn’t have one of his best matches and especially for the goal he was looking at the foul that happened, ignored it and allowed the goal to stand. The incompetence of the referee and he was very arrogant,” he said.
Kenya's head coach coach Benni McCarthy instructs his players during a 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers Group ‘D’ match against Eritrea at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi on September 26, 2026.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group
“We got into the final third and lost concentration, lost focus and didn’t make the pass to score. We were chasing the game and I needed someone to come and score the goal for us, that is why there was frustration at the touchline,” said McCarthy.
The South African football legend was appointed Harambee Stars coach on March 3, 2025 and has now overseen 19 matches in all competitions, winning seven, drawing five and losing seven.
Of significance, he has yet to win a competitive Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match.
In fact, all his victories, apart from the 2026 World Cup qualifying wins against Seychelles and Burundi, have come from the 2024 African Nations Championship (Chan), which Kenya co-hosted last year, and a couple of friendlies.
McCarthy nondescript performance thus far has increasingly frustrated many Kenyan football fans, who have started calling for his dismissal.
After the humbling draw against Eritrea, McCarthy blamed the team’s lack of preparation on a players’ strike over unpaid allowances. However, Harambee Stars trained on Sunday, Monday and Wednesday before facing Guinea.
Questions have also been raised about McCarthy’s commitment to Kenya following his scathing criticism of the Football Kenya Federation in the build-up to the Eritrea match.
“I always come around, do my job and go back because I don’t have a work permit. You know when you get tired of saying to someone, please can we do that? You end up with words that come out of your mouth and end up falling on deaf ears. And I think that is where it got to do with the federation and us,” said McCarthy while criticising FKF over its failure to secure his work permit.
Against Guinea, McCarthy made four changes to the team that started against Eritrea. Mohamed Bajaber and Ben Stanley, who impressed after coming on as substitutes against Eritrea, were handed starting berths alongside Tusker forward Chris Erambo and Gor Mahia defender Mike Kibwage.
Belgium-based forward Ryan Ogam, who missed several chances against Eritrea, started on the bench alongside defender Hanif Wesonga, Timothy Ouma and Aboud Omar.
The changes, however, did little to alter Kenya’s fortunes as Stars struggled in the final third.
The result lifted Guinea to second in Group 'D' with three points, behind South Africa, who have six points. Both teams have played two matches. Kenya and Eritrea have one point each.
However, Kenya are already assured of qualification to the 2027 Afcon as one of the three co-hosts.
