Hussein backs Harambee Stars to reach new heights under McCarthy

McCarthy, who took over the reins early last month, has already overseen two 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifier matches—a pulsating 3-3 draw away to Gambia and a narrow 2-1 loss to Gabon at Nyayo National Stadium.

Despite the mixed results, the FKF boss expressed confidence in the progress seen so far under McCarthy’s leadership.

“In terms of developing the national team, especially Harambee Stars, everything takes time,” he stated.

“We are clear with the national coach about his assignment and the time he has to build a competitive squad—and that’s exactly what he is doing.”

“I’m very delighted with the performance so far. I keep asking my fellow colleagues and Kenyans—when was the last time Harambee Stars scored three goals away in a qualifier? When was the last time you saw the kind of play we saw against Gabon? It’s a step at a time,” he added.

Mohammed also revealed that the upcoming friendlies in June and the CHAN tournament scheduled for August will be key benchmarks in evaluating McCarthy’s impact.

While acknowledging the challenges faced by past coaches, the FKF President reiterated the Federation’s commitment to giving the technical bench full autonomy.

“Coaches need time to develop their teams and to start delivering results. But I’m confident we made the right decision,” he affirmed.

“We will not interfere with the technical bench or dictate how things should be done. They will operate independently.”

During the official unveiling of McCarthy, the FKF boss revealed what made the former Bafana Bafana striker stand out among the shortlisted candidates.

“He has a fire in the belly—something to prove. He comes across as passionate, and frankly, he’s as Kenyan as it gets,” Hussein noted, adding that the national team enjoys full support from both FIFA and the government.