2024 Chan: 10-man Harambee Stars upset two-time champions Morocco

Ten-man Harambee Stars put in a gallant display to beat two-time champions Morocco 1-0 in the team's third match of 2024 African Nations Championship (Chan) on Sunday Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, in Nairobi.

Kenya played the second half with 10 men after Tusker FC's midfielder, Chrispine Erambo, was shown a red card at the stroke of halftime.

Erambo's red card had followed his club teammate Ryan Ogam had given Kenya the lead in the 42nd minute with his first international goal and set Kenya on the way to ending Morocco's 14-match unbeaten run in the competition.

Harambee Stars now top Group 'A' with seven points and now need to avoid defeat against Zambia in their final group game to seal their spot in the knockout stages.

Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy made six changes to his starting line-up. Goalkeeper Byrne Omondi kept his place in goal as did Sylvester Owino in defence. The trio of Mohammed Siraj, Mike Kibwage, and Lewis Bandi replaced Abud Omar, Alphonce Omija, and Daniel Sakari in defence. Chrispine Erambo came in for the suspended Marvin Nabwire as Ben Stanley Omondi and Ryan Ogam took the place of Alpha Onyango and Austine Odhiambo.

Before the match, McCarthy had raised concerns about his team's nervous starts and his worry was almost compounded in the sixth minute when Morocco almost took the lead after hitting the post from a set-piece routine.

Kenya recovered from that scare and minimised menacing threats on their goal, with the crowd cheering wildly every time the ball went out for a Harambee Stars goal kick.

Chants of "one million" roared across the stadium as Harambee Stars attacked, reminding the players of President William Ruto's promise to the squad of Sh1 million for every match they win in the tournament.

Morocco's forays were met with boos, and cheers roared again across the crowd when Omondi saved their first shot on target in the 37th minute.

Harambee Stars responded to Morocco's industry with rewarding enterprise of their own five minutes later as Ryan Ogam gave Harambee Stars the lead with his first international goal. Ogam finished a move that had started with goalkeeper Byrne Omondi exchanging passes with his defence.

Ogam collected the ball in Morocco's 18-yard area after a Moroccan defender had deflected Ben Stanley Omondi's pass to him. The Tusker FC forward then shifted to his left before powering a low shot to Elhemdi Al Harrar's bottom right corner, throwing the stadium into delirium.

However, groans were heard from the crowd in the first half stoppage after Chrispine Erambo was sent off for a dangerous tackle following a VAR review by Burkinabe referee Vincent Kabore.

In the second half, the Kabore consulted VAR yet again in the 60th minute to Morocco's advantage, this time overturning a penalty decision against them and awarding Harambee Stars a free kick after Boniface Muchiri had been fouled.

Harambee Stars almost scored from that free kick. Al Harrar parried Owino's header from an Ogam delivery against the crossbar and out for a corner that Kenya did not capitalise on.

From then on, the clock ticked with the anxious crowd cheering wildly, clapping, and sighing at every failed Moroccan attack.