From Rivals to Teammates, Now Tactical Opponents: McCarthy and Sektioui’s friendship rekindled at CHAN
The story of Benni McCarthy and Tarik Sektioui is one that African football lovers still recall with a mix of nostalgia and intrigue as it started as just teenagers with dreams.
What started as a bitter memory soon blossomed into a friendship that would stretch across decades.
It began in Rabat, 1997, during the African Youth Championship (now TotalEnergies U20 AFCON), where Morocco and South Africa marched all the way to the final.
McCarthy was the tournament’s sensation, scoring spectacular goals against Senegal and Zambia and propelling South Africa to their first youth final.
But a famous and ill-timed goal celebration — climbing the fence to salute fans after scoring — earned him a suspension for the final against hosts Morocco.
As fate would have it, Morocco seized their chance. With McCarthy helplessly watching from the sidelines, Tarik Sektioui shone brightly, orchestrating Morocco’s attacks and leading them to a 1–0 victory.
Sektioui’s dazzling performances throughout the tournament saw him crowned Player of the Tournament, a title that confirmed his arrival on the African stage.
“I believe if I had played, the outcome could have been different,” McCarthy once reflected, still rueful of that yellow-card accumulation.
Yet, while that night etched pain for him, it forged the foundation of a friendship with the Moroccan star who stood on the opposite podium.
Team-mates in Porto’s golden years
Nine years later, their paths converged again at FC Porto, one of Europe’s most storied clubs. McCarthy, fresh off a UEFA Champions League triumph under José Mourinho, was already an icon in Portugal.
Sektioui, after a successful spell in the Netherlands, joined the Dragons in 2006.
“We struck up a quick friendship because we were two African kids eager to succeed in Europe,” McCarthy said, recalling their pre-season days together.
Though their overlap at Porto was brief—McCarthy was on his way to England—those weeks forged a bond built on mutual respect.
Sektioui remembers McCarthy fondly: “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”.
Two careers, two paths
Their playing careers followed different arcs. McCarthy became South Africa’s all-time top scorer, starring at AFCON 1998 and the 2002 World Cup, and enjoyed spells in England with Blackburn and West Ham, later moving into coaching roles including with Manchester United as forwards coach.
Sektioui carved a quieter but no less admirable career in Europe, winning the Portuguese title with Porto and shining in Morocco’s domestic game.
As a coach, he quickly made his mark, guiding RS Berkane to a TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup title in 2020 and later managing Morocco’s U23 side.
CHAN 2024 brings them back together
Now, fate has once again drawn them together — not as players, but as head coaches at the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024.
McCarthy leads co-hosts Kenya, who stunned Morocco in Group A with a gritty 1–0 victory despite playing half the match with ten men.
Sektioui, in charge of the Atlas Lions, carries the weight of history as Morocco chase a third CHAN crown after triumphs in 2018 and 2020.
“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”.
Clash of philosophies
Their coaching philosophies mirror their playing styles. McCarthy, a ruthless striker in his prime, demands efficiency, resilience, and discipline from his Harambee Stars. Against Morocco, his side defended with steel, surviving waves of pressure to clinch a famous win.
Sektioui, once a daring winger, has instilled attacking adventure into his Moroccan team. “He sets his team up in the same way he played—adventurous, attacking, always going forward,” McCarthy observed.
The tactical duel is one of contrasts: defensive compactness and counter-attacks versus fluid attacking football.
More than just a match
Beyond the tactics, this story resonates because it encapsulates the spirit of African football. Two men who once competed for youth glory now stand on the touchline shaping futures for the next generation.
For McCarthy, victory over Morocco was more than just three points — it was about belief, uniting Kenya in their debut CHAN campaign. For Sektioui, it was a reminder that football’s beauty lies in its unpredictability, and that even giants can stumble.
Brotherhood beyond borders
Despite the intensity of competition, respect remains. “They’ve done very well and I am happy for him,” Sektioui said warmly of McCarthy.
Their story highlights football’s ability to create bonds across cultures, languages, and even rivalries.
As CHAN 2024 marches toward its knockout stages, one thing is certain: the friendship of McCarthy and Sektioui will endure, whatever the scoreboard says.
It is a tale of shared history, of rivalry turned brotherhood, and of African football writing new chapters through those who once lit up its pitches.
For the new generation of African players and fans watching CHAN 2024, McCarthy and Sektioui are more than just coaches. They are living proof that the rivalries of yesterday can become the friendships that inspire tomorrow.