2024 Chan: Harambee Stars hit Zambia to finish top of Group ‘A’, face Madagascar in quarters

His decisive strike not only booked Harambee Stars a home clash against Madagascar in the quarter-final stage at the same venue on Friday but also saw each member in the 42-man squad earn Sh2.5 million from President William Ruto.

The Head of State had promised every member of the team Sh2.5 if they beat Zambia. Following Harambee Stars’ victories over the Democratic Republic of Congo (1-0) and Morocco (1-0) and the draw against Angola (1-1) each member of the squad had received a total of Sh2.5 million.

After playing four matches, Kenya tops Group “A” with 10 points, followed by Morocco on nine points from the same number of matches. Morocco thumped the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) 3-1 in the pool’s other match held at the 18,000-seater Nyayo National Stadium.

DRC are third with six points, followed by Angola on four points, while Zambia are last with no points.

In the quarter-finals stage, Kenya will face Madagascar, who finished second in Group “B” with seven points, three behind hosts Tanzania. Tanzania will welcome Morocco, which finished second in Group 'B', in Dar es Salaam. 

Heading into the match, Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy had declared the match a “must-win” since they wanted to silence those who doubted their capabilities in the “Group of Death.”

“We want to make a statement by winning tomorrow’s game so that no one can say that it (Harambee Stars’ progress to the quarter-finals stage) was by chance but by sheer hard work, dedication and domination from the players and the team collectively that we are where we are,” said McCarthy at a pre-match press conference at Kasarani on Saturday.

True to his words, Harambee Stars capped their group campaign in style, with Ogam beating Zambia’s goalkeeper Charles Kalumba with a precise low shot.

After receiving a weighty pass from substitute Boniface Muchiri, the Tusker’s striker turned well inside the box before slotting home the goal.

Despite CAF reducing the fan attendance at the stadium, the fans cheered Harambee Stars, keeping the atmosphere vibrant with songs, Mexican waves, and the tapping of the seats in unison. A handful of Zambian fans also cheered their team passionately.

To prevent crowd trouble at Sunday’s match, security was heightened at all checkpoints and around the stadium.

Police were stationed every 50 meters, some patrolling on horseback.

Inside the stadium, CAF’s condition of no more than 60 per cent capacity (27,000) was implemented with several seats remaining unoccupied.

Reducing the fan attendance at the stadium is among the punishments that the African football governing body slapped on Kenya following a security breach ahead of Harambee Stars’ match against giants Morocco on Sunday last week at the same venue.

CAF also fined FKF Sh6.4 million and warned that it would relocate Harambee Stars matches to either Uganda or Tanzania should there be a repeat of a security breach.

President Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga were among the dignitaries who attended the match, where, for the fourth straight time, McCarthy made a string of changes in his starting lineup.

Goalkeeper Farouk Shikalo replaced Bryne Odhiambo, who played all of Kenya’s three previous matches. Talisman, attacking midfielder Austine Odhiambo, also returned after missing the match against Morocco, while captain Abud Omar also started the encounter. Against Morocco, Omar came as a second-half substitute.

Kenya would have gone into halftime in the lead had they capitalised on their chances.

With hosts starting the second half sluggishly, McCarthy moved to rectify things with the introduction of forward Boniface Muchiri and striker Masoud Juma for David Sakwa and Austine Odhiambo, respectively.

That change proved effective, with Muchiri causing trouble for the opponent with his dangerous crosses.

Kenya would have won the match by a bigger margin, but striker Masoud Juma, Alpha Onyango and Nabwire were not lucky in their efforts.