South Africa’s coaching glass ceiling cracks as Benni McCarthy takes over Harambee Stars
Benni McCarthy is set to make history as the first South African coach to lead a non-COSAFA national team to the Africa Cup of Nations. With Kenya set to co-host AFCON 2027, McCarthy steps into a high-stakes role that could redefine perceptions of South African coaches on the continent.
Despite being a founding member of CAF and an early advocate for African representation in FIFA’s Executive Committee, South Africa remained largely isolated from global football between 1956 and 1991 due to apartheid. The country’s football development took place in a silo, limiting the international exposure of its players and coaches.
While South Africa’s return to FIFA and CAF in 1991 marked a new era, the effects of that isolation persist today, with South African coaches rarely venturing beyond their borders. The country’s strong domestic league and economic stability further discourage moves abroad. This context makes Benni McCarthy’s imminent appointment as Kenya’s national team coach truly historic.
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Kenya, set to co-host AFCON 2027 alongside Tanzania and Uganda, will become the first non-South African team to compete at the tournament under the guidance of a South African coach. The new Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy will break new ground as the first South African to coach a national team outside the COSAFA region and only the second - after Moses Maliehe, who coached Lesotho from 2015 to 2019 - to manage another African team without prior experience coaching Bafana Bafana.
Historically, few South African coaches have taken on national team roles abroad. April Phumo coached Lesotho from 1979 to 1995 before briefly managing Bafana Bafana. Other South Africans who have coached foreign national teams include Thabo Senong (Lesotho, 2019–2021) and Ephraim Mashaba (Swaziland, 2008–2010). However, McCarthy’s profile surpasses that of his predecessors.
As a player, McCarthy was among the pioneers who shattered South Africa’s football isolation. He became a global name, representing Ajax, Celta Vigo, Porto, West Ham, and Blackburn Rovers. His achievements include an Eredivisie title, two Primeira Liga championships, and a UEFA Champions League triumph with Porto under José Mourinho. At AFCON 1998, he became only the second player in tournament history to score four goals in a single match.
McCarthy has also made strides in coaching, further defying the norm by working as a first-team coach at Manchester United, where he contributed to their 2024 FA Cup triumph. His European experience sets him apart from most South African coaches who remain confined to domestic football.
That said, he is not the first high-profile South African coach to seek success beyond the country’s borders. Pitso Mosimane shattered barriers in 2020 when he took charge of Egyptian giants Al Ahly, winning a league title, the Egypt Cup, two CAF Champions League titles, and the CAF Super Cup. Mosimane’s success proved that South African coaches could thrive abroad, and McCarthy now carries that torch in the national team space.
For Kenya, McCarthy’s appointment follows a history of mostly European coaches leading the Harambee Stars. He will be only the third non-Kenyan African to manage the team, after Nigeria’s Christian Chukwu and Algeria-Belgium’s Adel Amrouche. While Chukwu’s tenure ended in disappointment, Amrouche left a lasting impact, guiding Kenya to victory in the 2013 CECAFA Cup and revolutionising the team’s playing style.
McCarthy faces a major task ahead. Kenya, currently fourth in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying group, must turn their campaign around with crucial matches against Gabon and The Gambia in March. With only the group winners and play-off qualifiers advancing, McCarthy will need to make an immediate impact.
Beyond World Cup qualification, his long-term mission is preparing Kenya for a competitive showing at AFCON 2027. As co-hosts, Harambee Stars have a guaranteed spot, but expectations will be high. Success with Kenya would not only solidify McCarthy’s credentials but also challenge the long-held notion that South African coaches cannot succeed beyond their home country.
McCarthy’s appointment signals a shift in African football, where coaching opportunities for Africans outside their home nations remain rare. If he delivers results, he won’t just be rewriting Kenya’s football story - he’ll be breaking barriers for South African coaches on the continental stage.
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