Harambee Stars coach McCarthy has taken a swipe at Tanzanian football fans and critics after his team’s unbeaten run in the African Nations Championship (CHAN) PAMOJA 2024.

Speaking after the win over Zambia, which secured Kenya’s top spot in Group A, McCarthy wished the Taifa Stars well in their upcoming quarterfinal match against Morocco, but with a note of jest.

“Tanzania will get their wish, and they will experience what we experienced,” the South African coach said. “The group of death, now Morocco is going to Tanzania, so I want feedback after the Morocco game, so that they know what we went through in this tournament. So yeah, good luck to Tanzania in the next round.”

McCarthy’s comments were a direct response to the skepticism from Tanzanian fans regarding the Harambee Stars’ performances.

His side had just completed an impressive group stage run that saw them remain unbeaten against a group that included continental powerhouses Morocco, DR Congo, and Angola.

Morocco, in particular, proved to be a tough opponent, with McCarthy’s tactical prowess helping his team secure a memorable win despite playing a man down for the entire second half.

The quarterfinal match against Morocco in Dar es Salaam will be a stern test for Tanzania, who have a poor record against their North African opponents.

The two teams are in the same qualification group for next year’s World Cup, where Morocco has already beaten Tanzania twice with identical 2-0 scorelines.

They also met in last year’s Africa Cup of Nations, where Morocco won 3-0.

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