Benni McCarthy in Europe to strengthen Kenya ahead of AFCON

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) have confirmed a delegation led by national team coach Benni McCarthy is currently traversing in Europe to engage eligible players, who can strengthen Harambee Stars.

According to FKF President Hussein Mohammed, McCarthy and vice-president Macdonald Mariga, are using the opportunity as part of the opportunity to build a strong and competitive Harambee Stars ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Our journey towards AFCON 2027 continues with focus and purpose.

A delegation led by FKF Vice President McDonald Mariga together with members of the Harambee Stars technical bench headed by Coach Benni McCarthy is currently in Europe engaging eligible players as we strengthen… pic.twitter.com/JmBY1w4E5v

— Hussein Mohammed (@husseinmoha) March 12, 2026

Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania will co-host the 2027 edition, which will be the first time the tournament is held in the CECAFA region since 1976. The 36th edition is scheduled for June to July, with 24 teams competing across venues in the three East African nations.

Kenya aim to build competitive squad

“Our journey towards AFCON 2027 continues with focus and purpose,” Mohammed said in a statement. “A delegation led by FKF Vice President Macdonald Mariga together with members of Harambee Stars technical bench headed by coach Benni McCarthy is currently in Europe engaging eligible players as we strengthen our national team pool.”

Mohammed added: “These engagements are part of our wider commitment as Football Kenya Federation to build a strong, competitive squad capable of standing shoulder to shoulder with Africa’s and the world’s best.

“With Kenya set to co-host AFCON 2027, we are working tirelessly behind the scenes to support our team and assemble a squad that will make the nation proud.”

2027 AFCON will be part of 70th anniversary

After Kenya’s successful debut during the 2024 CHAN co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, McCarthy, who was in charge of the team that reached the knockout stages, is already focusing to see the team achieve the same during 2027 AFCON.

“Kenya is an upcoming nation, an East African nation, a sleeping giant I feel, because the talents that I have seen over this year working in Kenya are immense,” McCarthy said in a recent interview.

“They have got a great mentality, good work ethic, fantastic running power and we want to try and convert that into football. The progress has been good but I think what I expect and see achievement wise since we are the host nation you want to at least get out of the group stages.”

He continued: “That [Round of 16] would be a good starting point, a success for us, but beyond that is anyone’s guess. I just want to make a difference, Kenyan football when you leave there, people would believe more in their football like they do in athletics.”

The 2027 edition will be the first to be hosted by three countries, and the first in five decades to be organised in the CECAFA region, since it was hosted by Ethiopia in 1976.

This event will be part of the Africa Cup of Nations’ 70th anniversary, and will be the last one to be held in odd-numbered years, as CAF announced in December 2025 that AFCON would become a quadrennial tournament from 2028 onwards.