Kenya head coach Benni McCarthy has expressed doubts about the Harambee Stars’ chances of winning the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, admitting that the country may not yet have the resources and squad strength required to compete with Africa’s leading football nations.
McCarthy, who is leading Kenya as the country prepares for the tournament, believes Morocco, Egypt, Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal remain among the continent’s strongest sides, making the challenge of winning the trophy particularly difficult for his team.
The former South African international did not hide his concerns when discussing Kenya’s prospects, insisting that financial incentives alone would not change the team’s current competitive position.
“Even if you were to pay me millions and millions of dollars to win AFCON, I don’t think Kenya has resources and the team strong enough to compete with Morocco, Egypt, Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal, those are the powerhouses in African football.”
His comments underline the scale of the task facing Kenya as the country prepares to host the 2027 AFCON alongside Uganda and Tanzania.
While hosting the tournament will provide Kenya with an opportunity to showcase its football development and compete on home soil, McCarthy believes significant work remains before the Harambee Stars can realistically challenge the continent’s established heavyweights for the title.
Morocco have emerged as one of Africa’s most competitive sides in recent years, while Egypt boast a rich AFCON history. Côte d’Ivoire, the reigning champions following their triumph at the 2023 edition played in 2024, and Senegal have also established themselves as major forces in African football.
For McCarthy, the difference lies not only in ambition but also in the quality of players, depth of the squad and resources available to build a team capable of sustaining a challenge throughout a demanding tournament.
His assessment presents a challenge for Kenyan football authorities to strengthen the national team ahead of the competition. With the tournament approaching, preparations, player development and the establishment of a competitive squad will be crucial to the country’s ambitions.
Despite his pessimistic assessment of Kenya’s title prospects, hosting the tournament offers the Harambee Stars a valuable opportunity to test themselves against some of Africa’s best teams and seek to improve their standing in continental football.
McCarthy’s remarks have also sparked debate over whether Kenya should approach AFCON 2027 primarily as a host seeking to make a strong impression or as a genuine contender for the trophy.
