Benni McCarthy: When & where Harambee Stars coach will likely get his first win

Benni McCarthy will habe to wait until June and August for his first win. Photo/FKF Media

Benni McCarthy: When & where Harambee Stars coach will likely get his first win

Joel Omotto 06:02 - 25.03.2025

Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy missed a chance to secure his first victory in his team’s World Cup qualifiers in March but where will he likely win his maiden match for Kenya?

Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy saw his first two matches in charge end in a draw and defeat during Kenya’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers in March.

Kenya fought back to draw 3-3 with away to The Gambia on Thursday before a 2-1 loss to Gabon on home on Sunday all but ended their World Cup qualification hopes.

It means McCarthy will have to wait a little longer to witness his first win in charge of Harambee Stars and from now, the next international window is in June.

However, for the Harambee Stars coach, there will be no competitive matches for Kenya in June and it means his first win could come through a friendly match.

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The South African legend is likely to ask for key friendly matches during the June international window, which will come just after the current club calendar, and whichever team Football Kenya Federation settles on, the Harambee Stars coach will hope to impress.

If he fails to secure a win in the friendly ties, the 2024 African Nations Championships (CHAN 2024) will be his opportunity to do so and it will come with great pressure as Kenya will co-host the tournament alongside neighbours Uganda and Tanzania.

However, it will not be easy as Kenya are in a tough Group A that has Angola, Zambia, Morocco and DR Congo but he must secure at least two wins and a draw to guarantee a place in the next round.

These two windows are the opportunities for McCarthy to get his first win as Harambee Stars coach before they resume their World Cup qualifiers in September when back-to-back home matches against The Gambia and Seychelles are lined up.