Benni McCarthy believes Kenya could benefit from South Africa’s coaching transition when the two sides meet in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign in November.
South Africa are set to face Kenya on 13 November 2026 at home before travelling to Kenya for the return fixture on 17 November 2026. The matches will also mark an intriguing reunion for McCarthy, who will come up against his former national team.
South Africa recently appointed Pitso Mosimane as head coach, beginning his second spell in charge of Bafana Bafana. According to McCarthy, the change could give Kenya an opportunity to exploit the period of adjustment as Mosimane introduces his tactical ideas.
“Whenever there’s a change of guard, it takes time for players to understand a new head coach,” McCarthy said on Sporty TV.
The former Bafana Bafana striker suggested that South Africa may need several matches before fully adapting to Mosimane’s methods.
“For us, maybe the change of coach could have come at a better time because it will take a couple of games for South Africa to play the way Pitso wants to play,” he added.
Despite Kenya already having automatic qualification for the 2027 AFCON as one of the tournament’s co-hosts alongside Uganda and Tanzania, McCarthy is expected to approach the fixtures seriously.
The matches will provide Kenya with competitive preparation against high-level opposition, while Mosimane will use the encounters as an early test of his second tenure with South Africa.
McCarthy’s Kenya Record
Since taking charge of the Harambee Stars in March 2025, McCarthy has overseen World Cup qualifiers, international friendlies and the 2025 CHAN campaign.
Kenya recorded notable results during the CHAN tournament, topping their group after victories over DR Congo, Morocco and Zambia, as well as a draw against Angola. Their campaign ended in the quarter-finals following a narrow defeat to Madagascar.
The November meetings with South Africa therefore carry significance beyond the qualifying table, offering both coaching teams an opportunity to assess their squads ahead of the 2027 AFCON tournament.
Kenya vs South Africa promises to be an intriguing tactical battle, with McCarthy facing his former national team and Mosimane beginning his second chapter with Bafana Bafana.
