Bumper cash reward awaiting Benni after flawless CHAN 2024 run with Kenya

Bafana Bafana legend Benni McCarthy and his all-South African coaching staff are set to pocket a massive bonus after delivering Kenya to the quarter-final of 2024 African Nations Championships.

McCarthy completed an unbeaten group stage run on Sunday when Kenya beat Zambia 1-0 at Kasarani Stadium on Sunday to finish top of a tough Group A.

The Harambee Stars had been seen as the underdogs in a group that had Morocco and DR Congo, both two-time winners, COSAFA champions Angola and Zambia but finished top with 10 points ahead of the North Africans, who managed nine.

Kenyas Austin Odhiambo vies for the ball during their CHAN 2024 match with Zambia

Following the win, McCarthy, his coaching staff, which includes assistant Vasili Manousakis, goalkeeper trainer Moeneeb Josephs and performance analyst Pilela Maposa as well as his players are each assured Ksh5 million (R682,316) thanks to a pledge from Kenya’s President William Ruto.

How has the money come about?

Ruto had promised each of them Ksh1 million (R136,463) for every win and Ksh500,000 (R68,231) for every group stage draw and when they bet Morocco, DR Congo and drew with Angola, he kept his promise and awarded them Ksh2.5 million (R341,158) each.

At the beginning of the CHAN tournament, no one gave our Harambee Stars a chance of going past the group stages. After all, we were in the so-called “Group of Death.” Yet, our boys have triumphed.

By overcoming football giants of the continent, our boys have shown the world… pic.twitter.com/CNkZScc9RW
— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) August 17, 2025

The President then pledged a further Ksh2.5 million (R341,158) each if they defeated Zambia on Sunday and they did just that, taking their total to Ksh5 million (R682,316).

This is just a presidential reward and not related to McCarthy’s salary, which is believed to have lucrative bonuses for wins, and how far he takes Kenya in major tournaments.

McCarthy and his Kenyan players are assured much more as President Ruto has pledged Ksh60 million (R8.2 million) to the team for reaching the quarter-final, which they have already done, Ksh70 million (R9.5 million) for the semi-final and Ksh600 million (R82 million) if they win CHAN 2024.