Benni McCarthy Warns Bafana Bafana That Kenya Will Cause ‘A Lot of Trouble’ in AFCON Qualifiers
- Kenya coach Benni McCarthy issued a warning to both Bafana Bafana and Guinea ahead of their upcoming AFCON qualifying fixtures
- Harambee Stars were held to a 1-1 draw by Eritrea at Nyayo Stadium after Ryan Ogam equalised in the 87th minute
- Kenya's preparations were severely disrupted by a players' dispute over unpaid allowances, which resulted in a go-slow before the match
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Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy has put both South Africa and Guinea on notice, insisting his side will pose a serious threat in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers despite a frustrating opening draw against Eritrea.
Kenya were held to a 1-1 result at Nyayo Stadium on Saturday after striker Ryan Ogam rescued a point in the 87th minute, with Ben Stanley Omondi providing the assist. Eritrea had stunned the hosts by taking the lead against the run of play in the 36th minute, when a swift counter-attack saw Al Masry forward Ali Sulieman set up Nahom Netabay, who finished calmly from around 20 yards.
McCarthy Points to Preparation Disruptions
The result came after a difficult build-up for Harambee Stars, who were caught up in a dispute between players and the football federation over unpaid allowances. The standoff led to a go-slow, leaving McCarthy with no proper training sessions ahead of the match.
Despite those disruptions, the Kenya coach expressed satisfaction with the quality and effort his players produced. He acknowledged that a lack of composure in front of goal ultimately cost his side all three points, but felt the performance itself was encouraging given the circumstances.
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McCarthy was particularly upbeat about what a fully prepared Kenya side could achieve. He stated that if the allowance dispute is resolved and the squad completes even a few proper training sessions, his team would be significantly more dangerous.
Bafana and Guinea Put on Notice
The former Manchester United and South Africa striker did not hold back when assessing what lies ahead for Group D opponents. McCarthy warned that Harambee Stars would cause "a lot of trouble" for both South Africa and Guinea, adding that his team could be even more of a threat when playing away from home.
South Africa currently top Group D after new head coach Pitso Mosimane guided Bafana Bafana to a 2-1 win over Guinea at Orlando Stadium in his first match in charge. Kenya sit third in the group following Saturday's draw.
McCarthy's side will next travel to face Guinea on Thursday, looking to claim their first three points of the qualifying campaign before the anticipated showdown with Bafana Bafana.
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Source: Briefly News
