Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy is set to travel to Germany as part of an ongoing scouting mission aimed at strengthening Kenya’s football team ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) which Kenya will co-host alongside Tanzania and Uganda.
The scouting exercise, spearheaded by the Football Kenya Federation (FKF), is focused on identifying players of Kenyan descent based abroad who could be eligible to represent Harambee Stars.
The move is part of a long-term plan to build a competitive squad capable of delivering strong performances at the upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations on home soil.
This latest trip comes just weeks after a successful scouting mission in the United Kingdom, where McCarthy was accompanied by FKF Vice President McDonald Mariga, Harambee Stars Team Manager Nick Kimathi and FKF NEC member Abdalla Yusuf.
The visit saw the delegation meet several players of Kenyan origin, with the trip already yielding positive results.
Among those who committed to the national team was Zech Obiero, the Leyton Orient midfielder currently on loan at Tranmere Rovers, who went on to make his debut for Harambee Stars during the FIFA Series in Kigali, Rwanda.
The tour also paved the way for the return of Clarke Oduor of Grimsby Town to the national team setup.
In addition, the delegation held talks with Tyler Onyango of Everton, who is currently recovering from injury but expressed his willingness to represent Kenya in the future.
Zak Vyner of Wrexham AFC was also approached and indicated his interest in playing for Kenya, requesting more time as he considers the move.
According to South African news outlet iDiski Times, McCarthy is not done with his recruitment drive and is now targeting Germany where several promising players of Kenyan descent are currently developing their careers.
McCarthy, who was appointed Harambee Stars head coach in March 2025, has been tasked with preparing the national team for the 2027 AFCON after Kenya failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
McCarthy heads to Germany to scout players for Harambee Stars
The former Bafana Bafana striker has already shown his ambition by guiding the team to the quarterfinals of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2025 tournament last year and is keen to build a stronger and more competitive squad.
Speaking to iDiski Times senior journalist Matshelane Mamabolo in edition 248, McCarthy confirmed that he is actively monitoring players across Europe, with Germany being a key destination in his scouting plans.
“There are a couple of players playing in Scotland and in England,” McCarthy said.
“So, I go and just try and keep up with the players that we have closer. I’m flying from here to Kenya.
“From Kenya to Germany, because like I said, there’s a boy at Bayern Munich’s U21s, who is also training with the first team. There’s one at FC Cologne and another at Hoffenheim. And then there’s another one playing in Bundesliga Two,” McCarthy noted.
“So yeah, we’ve got some top boys about five that if we can get and add to the team, things will improve. That’s high-quality players, decent standard. So yeah, the better team that you can recruit, the more chances we have to succeed,” he finished.
McCarthy’s latest scouting trip underlines FKF’s renewed commitment to building a strong Harambee Stars squad by tapping into the Kenyan diaspora.
With the 2027 AFCON fast approaching, the focus is now on assembling a balanced team that blends local talent with experienced players competing in top European leagues.
If successful, the Germany trip could further expand Kenya’s talent pool and give Harambee Stars a competitive edge as the country prepares to host one of Africa’s biggest football tournaments.