Harambee Stars begin journey to uncharted waters

It’s time to walk the talk.

For former South Africa star Benni McCarthy, there will be little time to settle down.

The 2026 World Cup qualifiers are at hand and he made a vow when he took over as the team’s head coach; to take Kenya to the World Cup.

Now’s the time to prove his worth and make Kenyans smile again.

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Meanwhile, underperforming Nigeria and disadvantaged Sudan share the spotlight ahead of two 2026 World Cup qualifying matchdays from Wednesday.

In a qualifying competition spanning three years, the Super Eagles drew with Lesotho, Zimbabwe and South Africa, then crashed to Benin in pursuit of a seventh World Cup appearance.

Since finishing 2024 Africa Cup of Nations runner-up to hosts Ivory Coast, Nigeria have had three coaches -locals Finidi George and Augustine Eguavoen and now Eric Chelle.

Fired by Mali after a poor start to their World Cup campaign, Ivory Coast-born Chelle admits he faces a “huge challenge”, starting with Rwanda away and Zimbabwe at home this month.

Seeded fifth in Group B, Sudan occupy first place ahead of a top-of-table clash with three-time World Cup qualifiers Senegal in Benghazi.

The match is in Libya because Sudan has been engulfed in a civil war since April 2023.

AFP Sport highlights five matchday five clashes as the African qualifying schedule reaches the halfway mark:

Gambia v Kenya (Thursday 10pm)

Former South Africa star Benni McCarthy, part of the Manchester United backroom staff when Erik ten Hag was manager, debuts as Kenya coach, vowing to take the Harambee Stars to the World Cup.

“With the right mindset and dedication from the players, and a willingness to learn and give everything they have got, we can surprise a lot of people,” says the 47-year-old.

African champions Ivory Coast are set to win Group F, so Kenya need wins away to Gambia and at home to second-placed Gabon to have a realistic chance of coming second and reaching play-offs.

Ethiopia v Egypt (Saturday 12am)

As if trying to contain star Egypt forwards Mohamed Salah and Mahmoud Trezeguet is not sufficiently daunting, Ethiopia must also deal with recent Manchester City recruit Omar Marmoush.

Salah and Trezeguet are the leading scorers in African qualifying with five goals each -between them netting all but one of the Pharaohs’ 11 in Group A, which they lead by four points.

Although this is a home fixture for Ethiopia, ranked 113 places below Egypt, it will be staged in Morocco because the east African country lacks a Fifa-approved stadium.

Sudan v Senegal (Saturday 10pm)

Ghana-born Sudan coach Kwesi Appiah has told his squad to imagine they are world superstars as they seek to stretch a two-point Group B lead over Senegal.

“Look straight at the Senegalese stars and believe you are as good as they are. There is a war raging in your homeland and you are playing for your families and your country,” he told them.

Senegal can call on 32-year-old two-time African Footballer of the Year Sadio Mane.

Rwanda v Nigeria (Friday 7pm)

Nigeria may be ranked 80 places above Rwanda, but dare not underestimate the Wasps after what happened in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying last year.

Rwanda forced a 0-0 draw in Kigali, then stunned Nigeria 2-1 in Uyo.

Ghana v Chad (Friday 10pm)

After failing to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and a World Cup loss away to shock Group I leaders Comoros, Ghana coach Otto Addo cannot afford any more setbacks.

Chad are pointless, have scored just once, some stars are boycotting this match due to “poor organisation” and coach Kevin Nicaise quit to be replaced by Qatari Tahir Zakaria Gardia.