The 36th edition will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania from June 19 to July 18, and will be the first to be hosted by three countries, and the first in five decades to be organised in the CECAFA region, since it was hosted by Ethiopia in 1976.
By virtue of being host nation, Kenya will be among the 24 teams that will fight it out for the coveted trophy, which is currently being held by Senegal after they defeated Morocco in the final of the 2025 edition in Rabat.
This will be the second major tournament the South African legend will be taking charge of Kenya since he was hired in March, 2025 to replace Engin Firat.
McCarthy handled Kenya during the 2024 edition of the African Nations Championship (CHAN), which was co-hosted by the three East African nations as a dress rehearsal for the 2027 AFCON.
McCarthy on what will kill Kenya's chances
Ahead of 2027 AFCON, McCarthy is already focused on qualifying Kenya to the knockout stages. However, the former Manchester United assistant coach believes the target can only be achieved if Harambee Stars will avoid being drawn in the ‘Group of Death’.
“I am praying that we don’t get a ‘Group of Death’ because that would really kill our chances,” McCarthy told Creamer Media TV. “If you are in a group with Morocco, Ivory Coast or Senegal, then ‘Group of Death’ because you know for a fact you don’t have that kind of quality and prowess.
“But if we are in a modest group, we can have a fighting chance and that is the first goal that we want to achieve, get out of the group and have the same impact we had when we played in the CHAN competition.”
During the CHAN, Kenya were drawn in Group A alongside Morocco, DR Congo, Zambia, and Angola. Kenya’s opener was against the Leopards which they won 1-0, before coming from behind to draw 1-1 against the Palancas Negras.
On matchday three, Kenya came up against the Atlas Lions emerging 1-0 winners, before they defeated Zambia 1-0 to conclude their group matches unbeaten and seal a ticket to the knockout stages for the first time in their history of the CHAN.
In the Round of 16, Kenya’s journey came to an end after they lost 1-0 against Madagascar, who went ahead to reach the final, losing to Morocco.
“That (Round of 16) would be a good starting point, a success for us, but beyond that is anyone’s guess. I just want to make a difference, Kenyan football when you leave there, people would believe more in their football like they do in athletics,” added McCarthy.
“Athletics is like a religion for Kenyans but I want football to become on par with athletics because there are some football talents and hopefully, me and my team can achieve that because the people believe and are backing the national team.”
On what he thinks about Kenya, McCarthy explained: “Kenya is an upcoming nation, an East African nation, a sleeping giant I feel, because the talents that I have seen over this year working in Kenya are immense.”
Kenya has participated in the Africa Cup of Nations six times, making them one of the more experienced East African teams in the competition. Despite this, Kenya has never advanced past the group stages of a single AFCON.
