2024 Chan: Excitement builds ahead of Kenya, Morocco match

ppearing in the knockout stages.

Morocco, who are second in the group with three points, will be playing their second match of the competition after resting for one week.

Fans are expected to fill the stadium after tickets for the match were sold out early last week. Fans started entering the stadium as early as 11 am, with gates having opened at 10am.

Activity was slow at Nairobi CBD, but the area around Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, was abuzz with excited fans hoping to access the stadium.

There was a heavy police presence along the Thika Road service lane leading to Kasarani Stadium. There were also vendors selling flags, Harambee Stars jerseys, and whistles, perhaps oblivious, or defiant, of the CAF directive that listed whistles as one of the prohibited items that fans should not carry to the stadium.

Police were pushing back the crowd that had milled around the area, and all was calm and peaceful as the fans complied with orders to move back.

Police had also mounted a roadblock at the service lane, only allowing authorised vehicles to pass through.

At the stadium, fans who had arrived early used the moment to pick their favourite seats and also take photos and videos for social media. Fans were dressed in Harambee Stars jerseys and were waving Kenyan flags. Stadium staff could also be spotted wiping seats and cleaning areas around the stadium.

One Harambee Stars fan, William Muriithi, expressed his joy and anticipation for a Harambee Stars win. “As a Shabana fan, I look forward to seeing Austin Odongo and Brian Michira play. The team has been playing well, and I hope they win today,” Muriithi said.

Samih Smidi, a Moroccan who has been living and working in Kenya, expressed his love for the Kenyan people and appreciated their support for Morocco during their 2-0 win over Angola in their opening match on Sunday last week. “Thank you Kenyans. It is a pleasure living and working in Nairobi,” he said.

Echoing the comments Morocco’s coach Tarik Sektioui made before the match, Smidi said he does not expect Morocco to have an easy game against Kenya despite having rested for one week. “Resting for one week is a double-edged sword. It means that we are fresh, but it also means we have not had a competitive match for that period.”

Smidi predicts the first half to end 0-0 before Morocco dominate the second half. “Morocco will show their class in the second half and bag three points to go top of the group.”

Another duo of Moroccan fans, Othmane Rabi and Nisrine Assoul, who are a couple, could not hide their joy at the opportunity of watching the Atlas Lions play abroad for the first time. As soon as they entered the stadium, Rabi and Assoul took photos and videos for their memories.

“We are enjoying Kenya. We arrived here on Monday from Morocco, and we have already been to the Maasai Mara, and after today, we will go to Diani,” Rabi said.

Rabi also praised the organisation of the tournament and the performance of Harambee Stars. “I hope Kenya and Morocco will go to the next round and even meet in the final,” he said.