Benni McCarthy sets bar high for Harambee Stars in CHAN

Benni McCarthy

Benni McCarthy sets bar high for Harambee Stars in CHAN

Evans Ousuru 11:42 - 10.03.2025

Newly-appointed Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy has explained what he demands from the Stars at the CHAN tournament.

Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy has set targets for the team that is set to play at African Nations Championships in August.

Kenya, alongside Uganda and Tanzania, will co-host the biennial championship and the newly-appointed tactician believes Harambee Stars can reach the semifinals of  the tournament that is meant for local players.“

"For the 2024 CHAN tournament, which is in Kenya, we want to showcase our skills and make a good account of ourselves. We want to succeed, not fail. Our goal is to reach the semifinals and even the final. I believe with hard work, it's very possible,” McCarthy told Mozzart Sports.

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The South African, 47, promised to steady the Harambee Stars ship. The Stars have failed to reach the dizzying heights of the yesteryears compounded by the team's inability to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations AFCON set for Morocco, December.

The former Manchester United assistant coach maintains that Harambee Stars will play an attractive brand of football that the fans have been craving for.

“I want to make Kenya the best team East Africa has ever seen. If we can fix the national team, Kenya will go far. For me, it’s about the passion on people’s faces, and that shows they truly love their country. So far, the national team hasn’t delivered what the fans want,” McCarthy emphasized.

McCarthy, who won the Champions League as a player with FC Porto, is set to name his squad for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifier against The Gambia and  Gabon this week. Harambee Stars play The Gambia away on March 17 and host Gabon a week later at the Nyayo Stadium.

McCarthy finds Kenya sitting fourth in Group F with five points, five less than leaders Ivory Coast, while Gabon are second with nine points and Burundi third with seven points. Under Turkish gaffer Engin Firat, Kenya had played four qualifying matches.

The Michael Olunga-captained side  lost 2-1 against Gabon before recovering to beat Seychelles 5-0. Two consecutive draws against Burundi 1-1 and Ivory Coast 0-0, proved detrimental to Kenya's qualification hopes. McCarthy previously said that Kenya still has a chance to  qualify for the World Cup but all eyes will be on how his first Harambee Stars team will perform.