Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder and Kenyan international Victor Wanyama has praised Benni McCarthy for the impressive work he has done since taking over as Kenya coach.
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McCarthy has won four and lost two of his nine games in charge of the Harambee Stars and is fresh off the back of a solid showing at the 2024 African Nations Championships (CHAN), where he led Kenya to a quarter-final appearance, losing on penalties to Madagascar.
Speaking after Kenya's elimination, Wanyama believes it is important to support the ex-Man Utd first team coach as he is capable of advancing Kenyan football, Flashscore reported.
"We have a good coach in Benni," Wanyama said. "We need to support him. We are trying to get back to where we belong."
He added, "We need to support the national team, we need to support football in this country, and we will see our country grow as one of the biggest footballing countries on the continent. Honestly speaking, I can see we are trying to get back to where we belong."
The former Celtic star was also optimistic about Kenya's CHAN showing.
"It is a great feeling to represent the country at the highest stage and to show what we have in terms of football talent," he said. "It is every young footballer’s dream to reach those levels, and I know after this tournament they will be burning inside to do this again.”
The 34-year-old also revealed that his home country did a great job hosting CHAN and said it was a perfect appetiser ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
"The tournament has been really great with the way CAF has organised everything from the teams to the supporters," he said.
"There has been an electric atmosphere in Nairobi with full stadiums and so many fans flocking in to watch football. This is a great moment for us, and it shows that there will be bigger things to come in 2027 when the AFCON comes here," he concluded.
Check Out: Benni Earns Even More Praise From Rival Tactician
McCarthy's next task as Kenya boss will be the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The Harambee Stars currently sit fourth in Group F and will tackle Gambia and Seychelles at home in their next two games.
