EXCL: Bafana Bafana legend and former Manchester United strikers' coach Benni McCarthy set for Kenya job as Engin Firat's replacement

South Africa legend Benni McCarthy is set to take over as Kenya National Team head coach.

The position fell vacant after former tactician Engin Firat resigned after failing to help the Harambee Stars qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations competition.

Newly elected Football Kenya Federation President Hussein Mohammed and his office have now settled on the former Manchester United Strikers' coach to steer the team forward.

"The National Executive Council, NEC, under the leadership of Vice-President McDonald Mariga settled on McCarthy as the man who can help Kenya reach the next level," a highly placed source from the FKF told GOAL on Thursday.

"We understand that this will be his first national team job but he has the ability and potential to deliver for us, all he needs is support. So unless there are last-minute changes - which is highly unlikely, he will be unveiled in early January with his team.

"Francis Kimanzi will serve as the team's Technical Director," he concluded.

After missing out on the 2025 Afcon, McCarthy has a massive task of helping Kenya qualify for the 2026 Fifa World Cup.

The Harambee Stars are in Group F alongside Ivory Coast, Gabon, Gambia, Seychelles, and Burundi. They have five points from four games in which they have recorded a win, two draws and a loss.

The main objective for McCarthy and his technical team is to ensure they build a strong team to deliver in the 2027 Afcon that Kenya will co-host with Uganda and Tanzania.

McCarthy's main task will be to rebuild a competitive squad ahead of the March 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Gambia and Gabon, respectively.

It is a massive challenge for the South African who has initially coached Premier Soccer League sides Cape Town City and AmaZulu.