Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy has joined the list of highest paid Africa national team coaches but he still does not compare to many others on the continent.
South African legend Benni McCarthy joined the growing list of former players who have become national team coaches on the continent when he was unveiled as Harambee Stars coach on Monday.
McCarthy swapped club football for the challenging international football arena, joining the likes of Rigobert Song, Aliou Cisse, Otto Addo as former players who are now coaching national teams in Africa.
McCarthy’s two-year contract will see him take home a monthly salary of Ksh8 million, including bonuses, putting him among the highest paid national team coaches on the continent.
With Football Kenya Federation’s huge outlay on McCarthy, Pulse Sports looks at where he ranks among the best paid Africa national team coaches.
Vladmir Petkovic – Algeria
Vladmir Petkovic (right) when he was unvelied as Algeria national team coach.
Algeria’s Bosnian coach Vladmir Petkovic is the best paid national team coach in Africa with a monthly salary of €135,000 (Ksh18.6 million).
Petkovic took charge of the “Fennecs” one year ago and led them to qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The 62-year-old is highly experienced as is best remembered for his stint as Switzerland national team coach from 2014-2021, leading them to Euro 2016 and 2020, reaching the quarterfinal in the latter, and Round of 16 of the 2018 World Cup.
Aliou Cisse – Libya
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New Libya coach Aliou Cisse © Imago
Senegal legend Aliou Cisse was unveiled as the head coach of the Libya national team last month and he will see a significant increase on his salary with the North Africans agreeing to shell out €76,000 (Ksh10.5 million) monthly on him.
Cisse has taken on a new challenge after leaving Senegal where he worked for nine years before leaving last year, having taken the Teranga Lions to the 2021 AFCON victory and to the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
His stint with the Mediterranean Knights will see him lead the team for two years and he is tasked with taking them to the 2026 World Cup and 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
Hugo Broos – South Africa
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South Africa’s football coach, Hugo Broos, at the press conference. (Photo Credit: Velile Mnyandu/X)
South Africa’s veteran Belgian coach Hugo Broos is the third best paid national team coach in Africa with a monthly salary of €75,000 (Ksh10.3 million).
An AFCON 2017 winner with Cameroon, Broos is a highly experienced tactician who has so far guided South Africa to the 2023 and 2025 AFCON, finishing third in the last edition, which was Bafana Bafana’s best result in 24 years.
Broos has been with South Africa since 2021 with his contract set to run out in 2026 when they hope to have sealed a place to the World Cup for the first time since they hosted it in 2010.
Emers Faye – Ivory Coast
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Emerse Faye is Ivory Coast coach.
Also earning €75,000 (Ksh10.3 million) per month is Ivory Coast’s Emers Faye, who guided The Elephants to the 2023 AFCON trophy, having taken over midway through the tournament.
The former Ivory Coast star is doing well so far as the Ivorians lead their World Cup qualification group, which also has Kenya, with 10 points from four matches, one ahead of second-placed Gabon.
Walid Regragui – Morocco
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Walid regragui is Morocco head coach.
Morocco’s Walid Regragui is also among the best paid national team coaches in Africa with a monthly salary of €70,000 (Ksh9.6 million).
Regragui took over in 2022 just three months before the Qatar World Cup but made history, taking them to the semi-final, a first-ever for an African team.
The Atlas Lions did not have a great AFCON 2023 but there is plenty of pressure in 2025 as Morocco are hosting the tournament later this year.
Benni McCarthy – Kenya
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Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy. Photo/FKF Media
Kenya’s Benni McCarthy has made his way to the list of the best paid Africa national team coaches after taking over Harambee Stars on March 5, 2025.
McCarthy signed a two-year contract worth up to €58,000 (Ksh8 million) per month in salary and bonuses, putting him ahead of many esteemed names on the list.
The South African legend has vowed to do all he can to lead Kenya to the 2026 World Cup but there will also be pressure in CHAN 2024 and AFCON 2027 which the country will co-host with Uganda and Tanzania.
Otto Addo – Ghana
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Ghana coach Otto Addo
Ghana’s Otto Addo comes just behind Benni McCarthy with a monthly salary of €45,300 (Ksh6.3 million) but his stint has been underwhelming.
Addo came close getting sacked when the Black Stars hit an all-time low by failing to qualify for AFCON 2025, leading for a clamour for his removal, but he surprisingly survived the axe and he has a big job on his hands to ensure Ghana return to the World Cup after he guided them at the 2022 tournament during a three-month stint.
Marc Brys – Cameroon
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Cameroon coach Marc Brys | Imago
Cameroon’s Marc Brys also makes the list with a monthly salary of €44,000 (Ksh6.1 million) since his controversial appointment last year, which led to a fight between the federation FECAFOOT, led by president Samuel Eto’o and the Sports Ministry.
Brys has nonetheless done well with his team qualifying for AFCON 2025 top of their group that also had Kenya.
Kwesi Appiah – Sudan
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Kwesi Appiah is the head coach of Sudan. Photo Credit: Courtesy
Sudan’s Ghanaian coach Kwesi Appiah qualified for the 2025 AFCON at the expense of his country, after navigating a tough qualifying campaign in which they played all their home matches away due to the ongoing war in the country.
Appiah, who guided Ghana to the quarter-final of the 2024 World Cup, earns €38,000 (Ksh5.2 million) monthly as Sudan coach.
Hossam Hassan – Egypt
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Egypt’s national team manager Hossam Hassan || Image credit: Imago
Egyptian legend Hossam Hassan’s salary surprised many in his country and North Africa when it was revealed recently.
Hassan is on €30,000 (Ksh4.1 million) per month since his appointment last year to replace Argentine Hector Cuper, who was reportedly earning an eye-watering $145,000 (Ksh18.6 million) per month, before he was sacked after a poor AFCON 2023 campaign.
