Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy has fiercely defended his provisional squad for the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), maintaining that every player was chosen based on performance and potential, not popularity.
The former Manchester United coach and South African football icon recently named his provisional squad for the CHAN tournament, which kicks off on Saturday, August 2. Kenya will be playing on home soil, co-hosting the tournament alongside Uganda and Tanzania.
Drawn in a tough Group A featuring Morocco, DR Congo, Angola, and Zambia, McCarthy’s side will face stiff competition. The selection of the squad has generated widespread conversation online, especially after the exclusion of some fan-favourite players and the inclusion of others still recovering from injury.
But the Harambee Stars boss, speaking at a press conference on Thursday, was clear: “You cannot please everyone, and I am not here to please people. I am here to bring success to this country,” McCarthy stated firmly.
He added, “The players we have selected are those we have seen, those we’ve worked with in camp, and those we believe can get the job done.”
The South African tactician reiterated that CHAN rules only allow players featuring in domestic leagues, meaning the Stars had to depend entirely on local talent for this particular tournament.
“When it was time for World Cup qualifiers, we had international players. But now we are working with the local pool,” McCarthy said. “So it’s not about who had a few good games—it’s about what we’ve seen day in, day out in training.”
McCarthy’s credentials speak for themselves. The 2004 UEFA Champions League winner with FC Porto and the only South African to win that competition also enjoyed a successful playing career in Europe with Ajax, Blackburn Rovers, and Celta Vigo, among others. His coaching résumé includes a stint at Manchester United as a first-team coach.
That experience, he says, gives him the authority to make the tough calls.
“Everyone won’t be happy with the team selection, but not everyone has been where I have been. I know talent when I see it,” he asserted. “The players we’ve picked are, in our view, the ones capable of taking Kenya forward.”
Among those omitted from the squad was Shabana FC forward Brian Michira, who ended the 2024/25 season with 17 goals and 8 assists. The Golden Boot winner in the Mozzart Bet Cup was widely expected to make the cut. His exclusion raised eyebrows, but McCarthy insists the decision was purely technical.
“If someone didn’t make the squad, it’s not because they aren’t talented—it’s because others showed more consistency and fit the team’s needs better,” he said.
While some fans have taken to social media to express disappointment, others have come to the coach’s defense, urging supporters to trust the process. Local football analysts also noted that McCarthy has spent considerable time in domestic camps, watching the players firsthand and tailoring tactics based on their strengths.
McCarthy also dismissed concerns about including players returning from injury. One of the names mentioned by critics is KCB midfielder Mathias Isogol, who is still on the road to full recovery. Videos of him working in the gym sparked debate over his fitness levels, but McCarthy insisted the technical bench had made the right call.
“Fitness is something we’re monitoring closely. Some players are further along than people think. We are preparing everyone thoroughly,” he said.
The coach made it clear that his ambitions go far beyond simply participating in the tournament.
“We are not here to make up the numbers,” he said. “We are here to make a statement, to go as far as possible, and hopefully win it.”
With the newly refurbished Kasarani Stadium set to host all of Kenya’s Group A fixtures—including a massive opener against DR Congo on August 3—the pressure is on both McCarthy and the squad to deliver.
Still, the former Bafana Bafana striker is confident.
“The boys in this team have what it takes to get us where we need to be. This is a team that will fight for the badge,” he declared.
As the tournament approaches, all eyes will be on how the Harambee Stars perform under McCarthy’s leadership—and whether his bold decisions will translate into success on the pitch.
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