Kenya left Conakry with one point from its first two 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers after Thursday’s 1-0 loss to Guinea, putting coach Benni McCarthy under mounting scrutiny. Serhou Guirassy scored in the first half at Stade 28 Septembre. Kenya played better after the break, but couldn't equalise.
Fans Target Coach and FKF
The defeat triggered criticism online, with some supporters urging the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) to replace McCarthy. Harambee Stars fan Brian Skippa tweeted, “I’m sorry but we are .... We can’t compete at Afcon,” after the loss.
Jimmy Makhulo posted: “Dear FKF, end Benni’s holiday in Kenya NOW. He has toured enough and he needs to go back to SA, and you need to get a proper coach. This experiment has failed.” The comments came after McCarthy’s second disappointing result in charge of Stars. The article reports the supporters’ criticism but includes no response from McCarthy or FKF.
Kenya had drawn 1-1 against Eritrea the previous week and went into the Guinea match looking to recover. Instead, the first two fixtures brought one point and one goal. Kenya sits third in Group D, behind Guinea on three points and South Africa on six.
The Group Table
Guinea earned its first three points of the campaign by holding onto its lead. It had lost 2-1 to South Africa in its opening match. South Africa tops Group D after beating Eritrea 5-0.
Kenya now faces a difficult task in its bid to reach the 2027 continental finals. The team has scored once in two qualifiers, and its next Group D position will depend on results when the campaign resumes. The article says Kenya can't afford another slow start.
Scrutiny, Without Financial Details
McCarthy, a former South African international and the South African tactician, faces growing scrutiny after the draw with Eritrea and the loss to Guinea. The reported criticism centres on his appointment and performance; Makhulo wants FKF to appoint another coach. The article says no replacement has been announced.
The match revived a contest last played during the 2010 World Cup qualifiers. Kenya won the opening leg 2-0, then lost 3-2 in Conakry. The latest defeat extended Kenya’s wait for a win over Guinea in the city.
Harambee Stars are expected to face Rwanda in an international friendly on Monday. The report gives no figures for federation spending, coach compensation, ticket revenue or other financial interests in the team. It also reports no government action, union involvement or organised campaign beyond supporters’ online criticism. The account of the pressure therefore centres on the coach, FKF and the team’s results, while the material terms surrounding football’s administration remain unspecified.