Kenya national team head coach Benni McCarthy has made a candid observation about the Bafana Bafana squad, suggesting the players previously looked “tense” and “nervous” under former mentor Hugo Broos.
The South African football legend shared his assessment of the national team’s transformation since Pitso Mosimane took over the coaching reins in September 2026.
McCarthy and Mosimane are set to square off in opposite dugouts when the Harambee Stars face Bafana Bafana in a crucial 2027 AFCON qualifier at Orlando Amstel Arena on Friday, 13 November. Kick-off is scheduled for 18:00 CAT.
South Africa will host the East Africans in Soweto before the two nations square off again in the return leg on Tuesday, 17 November.
Heading into the double-header, Mosimane’s charges are chasing a third consecutive Group D victory after opening their campaign with a 2-1 win over Guinea and a 5-0 demolition of Eritrea.
Conversely, McCarthy’s Kenya—who have already secured automatic qualification as tournament co-hosts—are hunting for their first win of the qualifiers following a defeat to Guinea and a stalemate against Eritrea.
‘WE COULD HAVE DONE BETTER AT THE WORLD CUP’: BENNI MCCARTHY ON BAFANA BAFANA UNDER PITSO MOSIMANE
Speaking ahead of the clash, McCarthy credited Mosimane’s local touch for injecting newfound freedom into the squad, even suggesting South Africa could have progressed further than the Round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup under ‘Jingles’.
“Local is lekker, you can see the players play with freedom. There is a lot of excitement and joy in the camp, and they have a coach who understands them now,” McCarthy said.
“A coach that understands the culture and what it means to bleed South African. And it’s amazing to see, and if only we had this at the World Cup, I think South Africa would have done a little better than they did.
“I’m not criticising or saying anything bad about what the previous coach has done, but I just feel that when you watch Bafana now compared to then, there are so many players who were tense when they put on that Bafana jersey, with a bit of nervousness.
“But now, they play with so much freedom, and it’s great. As a South African, it’s fantastic to see what the players and your country are doing, and I really wish they have endless success under the leadership of coach Pitso.”
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