More than the result – Benni McCarthy: Manchester United ruled out signing Victor Osimhen due to the African Cup of Nations schedule

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Former Premier League striker Benni McCarthy has given a wide-ranging interview to the BBC. He is the only South African to win the men’s Champions League – that was with Jose Mourinho’s Porto in 2004. He is also his national team’s all-time top scorer and, after two years as first-team coach at Manchester United, is now in charge of the 2027 Men’s Africa Cup of Nations, which hosts Kenya. BBC Newsday presenter Isaac Fannin explains to Ed Harry why McCarthy believes the rift between club and country that affected his playing days still affects African players today. McCarthy says Manchester United have not pursued a deal for Nigerian striker and 2023 African Footballer of the Year, Victor Osimhen, because they do not want to sign a player they will lose to the Africa Cup of Nations for two months in the middle of the Premier League season. The Africa Cup of Nations is set to switch from a biennial tournament to a quadrennial tournament in 2028. McCarthy believes the tournament should have retained its traditional schedule in order to allow more exposure to talent on the continent, but more should have been done to prevent the finals from conflicting with club competitions. Every Monday to Friday, More Than the Score tells stories beyond the score from around the world of sports. From the Winter Olympics to the Super Bowl, from the Australian Open to the Diamond League, from netball to Formula 1. We’ve interviewed exceptional athletes such as figure skating star Emily Harrop, snowboarding icon Scottie James and drag racing king Harry Lafresne, as well as the experts who work behind the scenes, from the referees who run VAR to the coaches who keep athletes at peak fitness. In addition, we have the experience of the BBC’s senior journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sports at all levels. And if you have your own opinion on the stories we cover, we’d love to hear from you. Email morethanthescore@bbc.co.uk, or WhatsApp us on 0470 032 800 0044. You can find more information, as well as our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore

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