Kenyan Fans Call on Benni McCarthy to Resign After Harambee Stars' 1-0 Loss to Guinea
- Kenyan football fans flooded social media with criticism directed at Benni McCarthy after Harambee Stars' defeat to Guinea in AFCON qualifying
- One X account questioned how the South African coach ever won the UEFA Champions League, prompting a debate about McDonald Mariga's Inter Milan history
- McCarthy's tenure has already drawn scrutiny over squad selection, and the latest result has intensified calls for a change in direction
PAY ATTENTION: Mark Briefly News as a preferred source, and our content will appear higher in your Google feed!
Harambee Stars' 1-0 defeat to Guinea in Conakry on Thursday, 1 October 2026, has triggered a fierce backlash from Kenyan football supporters directed squarely at head coach Benni McCarthy.
Source: Instagram
The loss, which came just days after Kenya were held to a 1-1 draw by Eritrea at home in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, pushed fans over the edge on social media.
Kenyan fans turn on Benni McCarthy
The X account Kenya troll football led the charge, posting:
PAY ATTENTION: You can now search for all your favourite news and topics on Briefly News.
"This guy is clueless; how did he end up winning the Champions League?!! South Africa conned us here. Bro resign!!!"
Other supporters joined in, with one urging McCarthy to walk away from the job for his own sake.
"Save yourself and leave that gig broer, there are better teams," the fan wrote.
The criticism was sharp, with multiple users arguing that the appointment had been a mistake and that the national team's trajectory under the South African coach was heading in the wrong direction.
The thread took an unexpected turn when a user asked who had won the Champions League in Kenya. The answer that came back was simply:
"Mariga in 2010."
The reference was to McDonald Mariga, who made history as the first Kenyan to compete in the UEFA Champions League after signing for Inter Milan. Mariga was part of the Inter squad that lifted the trophy under José Mourinho during the 2009/10 campaign, making appearances including as a substitute in the round of 16 against Chelsea.
As seen in the post below on X.
McCarthy's own connection to the competition is considerably more prominent. The South African won the UEFA Champions League with Porto in 2004, when the club defeated Monaco 3-0 in the final. He also scored twice during that campaign, including in Porto's 2-1 victory over Manchester United.
Pressure builds on Benni McCarthy
Questions over McCarthy's management had already surfaced ahead of the September international window, with Kenyan media reporting concerns about omissions from his provisional squad for the qualifiers. After the Eritrea draw, the coach defended his players, pointing to disrupted preparations and insisting Kenya had deserved more than a point.
The Guinea defeat, however, has given fresh weight to his critics. McCarthy remains in the job for now, but the social media response following back-to-back poor results signals that supporter patience is wearing thin.
Benni McCarthy cites work permit problem
Briefly News previously reported that Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy revealed he and his backroom staff have not received work permits despite serving the national team for an extended period
McCarthy raised concerns about unpaid player allowances, saying some players had gone through four to five camps without receiving promised payments
PAY ATTENTION: Follow Briefly News on Twitter and never miss the hottest topics! Find us at @brieflyza!
Source: Briefly News
