In a press conference following the Harambee Stars’ impressive World Cup qualifier win, former Manchester United coach Bennie McCarthy praised his players for their sharp display but couldn’t resist taking a light-hearted jab at rival nation Tanzania.

“We have a little boost and we would like to have a mini-tournament where we would like to invite Tanzania,” McCarthy joked, sparking laughter from the reporters.

The comments came just after Tanzania had suffered a defeat to Niger in their own qualifier. McCarthy went on to suggest that other East African teams like Uganda and Rwanda could also join the friendly competition but made it clear that Tanzania was the top priority.

“It would be nice to break bread on the football pitch – but Tanzania first,” he said.

The playful comments quickly spread online, tapping into the long-standing friendly rivalry that has existed between the two East African nations. The rivalry, which extends beyond football into culture and even politics, makes any win over the other particularly sweet for fans. McCarthy’s humorous jab became a viral moment that perfectly captured the competitive spirit.