After a successful African Nations Championship campaign, Benni McCarthy has now assesed Kenya’s chances of reaching the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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There was tremendous pressure on the Harambee Stars, who are coached by the Capetonian tactician, heading into the CHAN. They had only managed to win one match under McCarthy’s leadership prior to the tournament, which was jointly hosted on home soil as well as in fellow East African countries Uganda and Tanzania.
The former striker, however, had a brilliant showing at the continental showpiece as Kenya managed to reach the quarter-finals, where they were unfortunately ousted by the eventual runners-up Madagascar. Now their focus quickly shifts to trying to secure qualification for the World Cup next year in Mexico, Canada, and the United States of America.
They are, however, facing an uphill task to successfully qualify for the global spectacle as they are currently ten points behind the automatic qualification spot held by current Group F leaders Ivory Coast.
While they are not officially out of contention to make the competition, McCarthy has admitted that their chances of making history are slim.
“Chances now are slim to none because we have four games; we can get 12 points to take us to 18 points, but it depends on what Ivory Coast and Burundi will get because they are ahead of us,” the former Manchester United assistant coach said, as per Pulse Sports.
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“It is what it is, and we want to make use of the four remaining matches, and I want to bring a lot of local players so they can get international experience, so we can be ready for preparations for the next World Cup.”
