Kenya's Harambee Stars entered the TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) PAMOJA tournament as underdogs. They were placed in a challenging group alongside powerful African soccer giants, including two teams that have each won the title twice.
The so-called 'group of death' included Morocco and DR Congo, both two-time CHAN champions along with Angola and Zambia. However, the team surprised everyone with an impressive performance, achieving a commendable winning two and drawing one against all three formidable opponents.
In their opening match against DR Congo, the Harambee Stars secured a thrilling 1-0 victory, thanks to a goal from Gor Mahia's attacking midfielder Austin Odhiambo. They followed this with a 1-1 draw against Angola, solidifying their status as a team to be reckoned with.
The biggest shock came during their third group match against Morocco, the 2020 champions. In a stunning display, Kenya defeated Morocco 1-0 at a packed Kasarani Stadium.
Their final group match against Zambia, who have already been eliminated from the tournament, will be crucial for Kenya as they aim to maintain their position at the top of the group. A slip to second position could lead to an early clash with their neighbors, Tanzania who are top at the group B.
Head coach Benni McCarthy remains confident in his players and is determined to finish the group stage successfully.
"Tomorrow’s match is a must-win for us. At the start of the tournament, everyone said this was the ‘group of death’ and predicted we’d end with zero points after four games. Now we find ourselves at the top of the standings, and we want to enjoy that view even more," he stated in a pre-match interview.
McCarthy's line-up has been unpredictable, as evidenced in their recent match against Morocco, where he benched key players and introduced new faces. This shift paid off, especially after his team managed to keep their lead despite being one player down following a red card issued to Chrispine Erambo Otieno in the 45th minute.
On the other hand, Zambia, having no points in the tournament, is determined to upset the Harambee Stars. They insist they will not treat the game lightly and are prepared to fight until the final whistle.
Coach Avram Grant acknowledged that it has been a tough tournament for the Chipolopolo, who sit at the bottom of Group A with three losses. However, he encouraged his players to demonstrate resilience and aim for a win against the hosts.
"This is our last game, and we need a winning attitude in difficult times. It won’t be easy, but we want to finish strong," he said.
The former Chelsea manager also noted that, despite the results, the tournament has been beneficial for evaluating players for potential call-ups to the senior team.
The match is set to kick off at 3 PM on Sunday, the 17th, at Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani, where the outcome will be decisive.
