- Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy reveals how timing of AFCON tournament denied Nigerian star Victor Osimhen a move to Manchester United.
- The South African tactician, who worked closely with the club’s forwards during his two-year stint at Old Trafford, admitted that Osimhen had been highly rated within the recruitment team.
Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy has disclosed that the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament was the major stumbling block that prevented Manchester United from pursuing Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen.
McCarthy, who previously served as a first-team coach at Manchester United under Erik ten Hag, made the revelation in an interview with BBC Sport Africa.
The South African tactician, who worked closely with the club’s forwards during his two-year stint at Old Trafford, admitted that Osimhen had been highly rated within the recruitment team.
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How timing of AFCON tournament denied Nigerian star Victor Osimhen a move to Manchester United
Osimhen had attracted interest from Europe’s biggest clubs after a sensational 2022-23 season with Napoli, where he scored 26 league goals to guide the Italian side to their first Serie A title in 33 years.
McCarthy revealed that the Nigerian was initially among the top striker targets for United.
“If you spend £100 million on a player, you do not want to lose him for AFCON,” McCarthy told BBC News Africa.
“I think he would have been very successful there, but AFCON was a big stumbling block. Losing him for so many important matches means the team suffers without its main striker,” he said.
According to McCarthy, the timing of the biennial AFCON tournament often staged in January and February in the middle of the European season ultimately forced United to look elsewhere.
“So the decision was made. A big part of it was because of AFCON, and Victor Osimhen’s name was scratched off the list — not because he was not good enough, but because of that,” he explained.
United eventually signed Danish striker Rasmus Hojlund from Atalanta in August 2023, opting for a player who would be available throughout the season without interruption from international tournaments.
Despite the setback, McCarthy maintained that Osimhen had all the attributes needed to thrive at a club of United’s magnitude.
“He scores goals, he works exceptionally hard, and he is a player who is immune to the noise,” said McCarthy, South Africa’s all-time leading scorer.
“Playing for Manchester United would not have affected him because of what he has gone through in his life. Where he comes from, he has seen far worse. Not scoring in five games would not affect him — he would just keep going because he understands struggle.”
McCarthy, however, admitted that the situation left him conflicted, especially as an African who always cherished representing his country.
“It made me kind of sad because throughout my career, I fought to represent my country. I am African,” he said.
Looking ahead, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced that AFCON will become a quadrennial tournament starting in 2028 in a bid to better align with the global football calendar.
McCarthy believes the competition should have remained biennial but scheduled in a way that does not clash with European leagues.
“I think CAF could work better with FIFA and UEFA on when to stage these tournaments so that it does not jeopardise players’ careers,” he noted.
“You either play it during a scheduled break or in the June-July window when the season is finished. I believe it should have stayed every two years, but it must not clash with club competitions.”
For the FC Porto legend, Osimhen’s missed move to Old Trafford highlights the long-standing club-versus-country dilemma that continues to affect many top African players during the AFCON tournament.