Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy has turned up the heat in the Kenya-Tanzania football rivalry by daring the Taifa Stars to a showdown. For years, the two neighbouring nations have traded jabs over football supremacy, a debate that often lights up social media with each side claiming superiority.
The banter reached new levels during the recently concluded 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), which was co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
Although McCarthy kept quiet on the chatter during CHAN, he has now stepped forward with a bold suggestion when asked about Kenya’s future engagements.
“We can ask the federation to speak to FIFA and maybe give us a little boost to have a mini tournament where we would like to invite Tanzania,” said McCarthy during his post-match press conference after the win over Seychelles.
He added that while he would like the tournament to feature other neighbouring countries, Tanzania is his top choice. “I would like to play against Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and all the neighbouring teams – We break bread on the football pitch, but Tanzania first,” he said.
During CHAN, there was a possibility the two nations could have met in the quarter-finals if one had topped their group while the other finished second, but the draw did not align that way.
Kenya, who at one point seemed set to finish second in Group A, clinched top spot after a decisive victory over Zambia in their final group game. However, both Kenya and Tanzania bowed out in the quarter-finals despite winning their groups.
In the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Harambee Stars bounced back from a 3-1 defeat to The Gambia on Friday, 5 September by thrashing Seychelles 5-0 in a dead-rubber tie on Tuesday, 9 September at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.
The national team will return to action in October with away fixtures against Burundi and Ivory Coast on Wednesday, 8 October and Saturday, 11 October, respectively.