Kenya national team head coach Benni McCarthy could be axed before his highly anticipated meeting with Bafana Bafana in November.
The 48-year-old coach has come under increasing pressure in recent weeks following a disappointing draw against Eritrea and a 1-0 defeat to Guinea in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
With Kenya sitting on just one point in Group D, McCarthy needs to turn things around quickly if he is to remain in charge.
Bafana Bafana are scheduled to face Kenya in their upcoming Group D qualifiers during the November international window. The first meeting is set for Wednesday, 11 November 2026, with the return fixture taking place on Friday, 13 November.
McCarthy to face Bafana next month
Kenya have already qualified for the 2027 AFCON as co-hosts, meaning their position in the qualifying group will not affect their participation in the tournament.
However, that has done little to ease the pressure on McCarthy. Kenyan football officials will want to see a competitive side capable of performing on home soil, and the former Bafana striker will be expected to deliver results despite Kenya’s automatic qualification.
The upcoming clash with South Africa could therefore prove significant for McCarthy’s future.
This is his first assignment as a national team head coach, and the former FC Porto striker is already facing questions over whether he remains the right man to lead Kenya into the AFCON tournament.
The pressure could increase further for McCarthy if Bafana Bafana beat Egypt on Sunday. A victory over the Pharaohs would strengthen South Africa’s position in Group D and potentially raise expectations ahead of their meeting with Kenya.
For Benni, the November fixtures could come at a crucial point in his tenure. He will need to improve Kenya’s results quickly if he is to avoid his first national-team job ending earlier than expected.