Benni McCarthy’s candid assessment of African football sheds light on a fundamental truth that has long plagued many Sub-Saharan teams: talent without structure leads to underperformance. The South African legend and current Harambee Stars head coach has drawn a clear distinction between North African football powerhouses Egypt, Morocco, and Algeria and nations such as Nigeria and South Africa, which are rich in talent but remain inconsistent on the continental and global stages.
According to McCarthy, the defining factor behind North Africa’s footballing dominance is infrastructure and planning. Unlike many Sub-Saharan teams that hop from one hotel to another for training camps, countries like Morocco and Egypt have established permanent, world-class training bases. These technical centers serve not only as logistical hubs but also as cultural homes for the national teams. McCarthy notes that such environments foster discipline, unity, and accountability all essential ingredients for sustained success.
Drawing parallels with Europe, he cites examples like France’s Clairefontaine and England’s St George’s Park, which have been pivotal in developing generations of world-class talent. In contrast, African teams that lack centralized facilities often struggle with poor discipline, distractions, and a lack of continuity. Players staying in hotels are prone to indulge in nightlife and lack the focused environment needed during crucial international windows.
McCarthy’s frustration is especially pointed when discussing South Africa and Nigeria two nations blessed with world-class players who regularly feature in Europe’s top leagues. For McCarthy, the fact that these countries struggle to qualify for major tournaments is unacceptable and indicative of deep-rooted institutional failures. “You can’t tell me with the players Nigeria have, they shouldn’t be top three in Africa or top 20 in the world,” he lamented.
The issue, as McCarthy underscores, isn’t just about having good players it’s about having a vision and a system that supports them. He praises South Africa’s recent improvements under Hugo Broos, attributing it to the stability and time the coach has been given. But he also warns that federation-level issues continue to undermine progress.
Currently, Kenya is attempting to bridge this gap with the planned construction of a technical center in Machakos. If implemented well, it could be a game-changer for the Harambee Stars and set a benchmark for other East African nations.
In essence, McCarthy’s message is a wake-up call. African football has the raw material talent. But without the structure, professionalism, and strategic vision that North African nations have adopted, the continent’s most gifted teams will continue to fall short of their true potential.
