Inside McCarthy’s bold plan for Kenya’s 2027 AFCON journey
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Reading Time: 2min | Fri. 07.11.25. | 11:00
Speaking on The Added Time Podcast, the former Manchester United first-team strikers’ coach said he was impressed by the number of Kenyan talents playing abroad in competitive leagues
Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy has outlined his long-term vision of building a competitive Kenyan team for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), with a strong emphasis on integrating foreign-based players of Kenyan descent.
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Speaking on The Added Time Podcast, the former Manchester United first-team strikers’ coach said he was impressed by the number of Kenyan talents playing abroad in competitive leagues.
This is the pool he intends to tap into as he prepares for the continental showpiece, which Kenya will co-host alongside Tanzania and Uganda.
“Each single day, I learn something new about Kenya. I’ve discovered there are so many players around the world with Kenyan ties, a Kenyan father or mother, playing for respectable clubs across Europe,” McCarthy said.
The former AmaZulu and Bafana Bafana legend, who guided Kenya to the African Nations Championship (CHAN) quarter-finals, admitted that the growing number of eligible players has given him a pleasant “headache,” as it widens his options both locally and internationally.
“My pool of players is expanding globally. If I’m smart, I’ll really dig into that and pick the best-performing players wherever they are, then integrate them into the national team to build a proper side,” he explained.
McCarthy added that his ultimate goal is to assemble a strong, united squad capable of not just participating but challenging for the AFCON title on home soil.
“We have a lot of positives happening, from stadium renovations to the construction of the Talanta Sports Complex,” he said.
“The country is united behind the team, so we must ride that wave. I have two years to build a proper Kenyan side, one that sets a strong claim for the final.”
Going by his remarks, McCarthy’s focus on the Kenyan diaspora is likely to draw from a growing crop of players making strides abroad.
These include the likes of Tyler Onyango, who features for Everton in England; Clark Oduor of Grimsby Town; and Jonah Ayunga, currently in Scotland.
Germany offers further prospects, such as Linton Maina of 1. FC Köln, while Zech Obiero of Leyton Orient and Clement Mutahi-Bischoff, who plays in Denmark, also fall within the radar.
