VICTOR WANYAMA EXPLAINS HOW BENNI MCCARTHY CAN LEAD HARAMBEE STARS TO AFCON 2027 GLORY

Victor Wanyama feels Harambee Stars can surprise at AFCON 2027.

Former Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama is backing Kenya to surprise at the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations due to a number of factors.

Former Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama has shared what gives him confidence of a successful 2027 Africa Cup of Nations for Kenya.

Kenya will be one of the co-hosts for AFCON 2027 alongside neighbours Kenya and Uganda and there is pressure to impress on home soil.

However, history suggests it might be a struggle to get out of their group given they have never gone past that level at all their previous six AFCON appearances.

Wanyama, however, feels Kenya do have enough quality and can spring a surprise when heavily motivated and pushed on by fans as seen during the 2024 African Nations Championships (CHAN 2024).

What is Wanyama Banking on For AFCON Success?

“We hosted CHAN, and nobody expected the local players to perform the way they did. That showed that with fans behind them at home, anything is possible,” Wanyama said on the Obi One Podcast.

“I believe in the boys; they have quality, and with proper training and preparation, they can beat any team on home soil.

The former Southampton and Tottenham midfielder is calling on early and proper preparation for the national team ahead of the continental tournament if Kenya have to post positive results.

“With good preparation and the same spirit they showed during CHAN, coupled with the support they received then, we have the potential to be the best,” he further said.

CHAN Experience Will Be Vital For Kenya

“We need to invest in infrastructure, give young players opportunities, focus on grassroots football, establish strong and well-structured youth leagues, and support academies. That is how we can develop many quality players.”

Kenya had an impressive run at CHAN 2024, when they finished top of a group that had Morocco, eventual winners of the competition, DR Congo, Angola and Zambia, making it to the quarter-final where they lost to Madagascar on post-match penalties.

Identical 1-0 wins against DR Congo, Morocco and Zambia, coupled with a 1-1 draw with Angola saw Benni McCarthy’s team finish top of a ‘Group of Death’ that few gave them a chance of getting out of.

- Joel Omotto