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Harambee Stars qualify for quarter-finals with a match to spare
Harambee Stars celebrate after their 1-0 win during their Chan match against DR Congo at Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani on August 3, 2025.
Kenya’s Harambee Stars have qualified for the quarter-finals of the 2024 African Nations Championship (Chan) tournament from Group "A" with a match to spare.
Harambee Stars are assured of a place in the quarter-final stage of the 19-nation biennial tournament with a match to spare after two-time Chan champions, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) thumped Angola 2-0 in a Group “A” match held at the 48,000-seater Moi International Sports Centre (MISC) Kasarani in Nairobi on Thursday evening.
Following the result, DR Congo are on six points, same as Morocco who beat Zambia 3-1 in an earlier match played on Thursday at Nyayo National Stadium.
Angola players arrive at Moi Internationals Sports Centre Kasarani in Nairobi on August 14, 2025 for the 2024 African Nations Championship Group 'A' match against the Democratic Republic of Congo.
After playing three matches, Harambee Stars top the group with seven points, followed by Morocco who have six points from the same number of matches. DR Congo are third in the group with six points from three matches while Angola are fourth with four points from four matches.
Zambia lie bottom of the group with zero points from three matches. Both Angola and Zambia have been eliminated from the competition as only the top two teams from each group will progress to the quarter-final stage.
Thursday’s result means that Harambee Stars, who will play their final Group ‘A’ match on Sunday, are assured of a place in the quarter-finals of the tournament even if they lose to Zambia on Sunday, thanks to head-to-head count.
Morocco will play DR Congo in their final Group ‘A’ match on Sunday, and any kind of result favours Harambee Stars.
Should Morocco beat DR Congo on Sunday and Kenya lose to Zambia, the Atlas Lions will top the group on nine points and will proceed to the quarter-finals alongside second-placed Kenya, who will be on seven points. That scenario leaves DR Congo on six points.
Angola's Antonio Da Sila (left) fights for the ball with Agee Basiala of the Democratic Republic of Congo during their Group 'A' match of the 2024 African Nations Championship at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, on August 14, 2025.
Should DR Congo beat Morocco and Kenya lose to Zambia, DR Congo will proceed to the quarter-finals alongside second-placed Kenya, who will be on seven points. That scenario leaves Morocco on six points.
Should Morocco draw with DR Congo, both teams will be on seven points, same as Kenya, and this is where the head-to-head rule will again come into play in favour of Kenya.
Kenya enjoys a better head-to-head record against both DR Congo and Morocco, having beaten both teams 1-0 in the group stage. Kenya will therefore advance to the quarter-final on a better head-to-head record against both DR Congo and Morocco, and goal aggregate will come into play to decide who between the Atlas Lions and the Congolese take second place.
On Thursday evening, DR Congo, cheered on by thousands of their supporters at MISC Kasarani, dominated the early exchanges, and scored two unanswered goals through Japhet Kitambala in the 58th minute, and Katumbwe Mokonzi in the 70th.
