The two coaches, once teenage rivals and Porto teammates, reunite at CHAN 2024, now guiding nations with contrasting philosophies and friendship.

If there is one story that captures the essence of African football’s enduring spirit, it is that of Benni McCarthy and Tarik Sektioui.

What began as a bitter teenage rivalry has blossomed into a friendship that now stretches across decades, rekindled on the sidelines of the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN).

The roots of their bond trace back to Rabat in 1997, when South Africa and Morocco clashed in the African Youth Championship final.

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McCarthy had been the star of the tournament, only to miss the final through suspension. From the sidelines, he watched Sektioui orchestrate Morocco’s attacks and claim both victory and the Player of the Tournament award.

“I believe if I had played, the outcome could have been different,” McCarthy once reflected, still rueful of his absence.

Yet that painful memory became the unlikely spark for a lasting bond with the Moroccan winger.

Fast forward nine years and their paths crossed again at FC Porto, where McCarthy was already a household name after helping the club to Champions League glory under José Mourinho.

Sektioui arrived in 2006 from the Netherlands, eager to prove himself at one of Europe’s most storied clubs.

“We struck up a quick friendship because we were two African kids eager to succeed in Europe,” McCarthy said, remembering their early days in Portugal.

Their overlap was brief, with McCarthy soon moving to England, but the respect and camaraderie remained strong.

Sektioui himself recalled: “I have very good memories of him as a player, having had the chance to play with him. Seeing him now doing well as a coach makes me happy”.

Their professional paths took different shapes. McCarthy became South Africa’s all-time top scorer, shining at AFCON 1998 and the 2002 World Cup, while also leaving his mark in England with Blackburn Rovers and West Ham. He has since forged a respected coaching career, including a spell as forwards coach at Manchester United.

Sektioui, meanwhile, carved out a quieter but equally admirable career in Europe and at home in Morocco. As a coach, he made history by guiding RS Berkane to the CAF Confederation Cup title in 2020 before taking charge of Morocco’s U23 side.

Now, in 2024, their stories intertwine again as head coaches. McCarthy is leading CHAN co-hosts Kenya, who stunned Morocco 1–0 in Group A, while Sektioui shoulders the weight of Moroccan expectations as the Atlas Lions chase a record third title.

“It will really be great meeting again as coaches,” McCarthy admitted before their clash.

“Not a score to settle, but a great reunion of two young coaches eager to do well”.

Their teams reflect their personalities. McCarthy, once a ruthless striker, demands resilience, discipline, and efficiency — traits Kenya displayed in their gritty win over Morocco despite playing much of the match with ten men.

Sektioui, on the other hand, sets his side up to attack relentlessly, mirroring his adventurous style as a player.

“He sets his team up in the same way he played—adventurous, attacking, always going forward,” McCarthy observed. The contrast is stark: compact defense and counter-attacks versus fluid, forward-thinking football.

Yet beyond tactics and titles, their story resonates for what it symbolizes. From rivals in Rabat to teammates in Porto and now opponents in the dugout, McCarthy and Sektioui embody how football builds bridges across borders and generations.

For McCarthy, victory over Morocco was about more than points — it was about uniting Kenya on their debut CHAN journey. For Sektioui, it was a reminder that the game’s beauty lies in unpredictability.

Their friendship, forged in the fire of competition, endures as a beacon for young African players watching them today. From rivalry to brotherhood, McCarthy and Sektioui’s journey is living proof that yesterday’s battles can inspire tomorrow’s dreams.