Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy has defended the decision to let defenders take post-match penalties in their quarter-final match of 2024 African Nations Championship (Chan) against Madagascar, saying they were the ones who showed the most courage.
Kenya exited the competition after losing 4-3 in post-match penalties to the Indian Ocean islanders at the 48,000-seater Moi International Sports Center (MISC) Kasarani in Nairobi yesterday.
Kenyan players react during their CHAN quarter finals match against Madagascar at Moi Internationals Sports Centre Kasarani on August 22, 2025.
Photo credit: Sila Kiplagat | Nation Media Group
Harambee Stars defender Alphonce Omija fired Kenya ahead in the 48th minute with a towering header, but Madagascar equalised in the 69th minute when forward Fenohasina Gilles Razafimaro converted from the spot.
In the post-match penalties, Kenya scored through defenders Mohammed Siraj, Daniel Sakari and Sylvester Owino, while Michael Kibwage and Alphonce Omija failed to convert their penalty kicks.
“I don’t force people to take penalties,” coach McCarthy said after the match.
“The players that took the penalties were the brave ones, the ones who never took you must ask them why they didn’t take penalties,” added the South African football legend. He also defended his decision not to bring on attacking midfielder Austine Odhiambo in the match, saying it was a tactical decision.
Harambee Stars player Austine Odhiamdo celebrates his goal against the Democratic Republic of Congo in Group 'A' match of 2024 African Nations Championship at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani on August 3, 2025.
Photo credit: Sila Kiplagat | Nation Media Group
But even as debutants Kenya exit the showpiece, they will take pride in their performance, having defied the expectations to reach the quarter-finals.
Drawn in the “Group of Death” alongside heavyweights Morocco, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Angola, many had written Kenya off in the tournament.
But the team put up a spirited performance to top the group with 10 points. Kenya stunned the Democratic Republic of Congo 1-0 before battling to a 1-1 draw with Angola. Harambee Stars then edged giants Morocco 1-0 before capping that impressive group-stage campaign with another narrow 1-0 victory over Zambia.
Remarkably, Stars played for more than an hour with 10 men against both Morocco and Angola following red cards on midfielders Marvine Nabwire and Chrispine Erambo
After playing all minutes in Kenya’s four group matches, defender Sylvester Owino was benched yesterday, while goalkeeper Byrne Odhiambo made a return to the goal-post after being rested against Zambia on Sunday.
Speedy-winger Boniface Muchiri who stood-out against Zambia after coming in as a second-half substitute also earned a starting berth against the Indian Ocean islanders while striker Ryan Ogam, who scored the winning goals against both Angola and Morocco also started the match.
Harambee Stars' Ryan Ogam celebrates his goal against Morocco during their Chan Group 'A' match at Kasarani on August 10, 2025.
Photo credit: Sila Kiplagat | Nation Media Group
On the other hand, Madagascar’s’ veteran goalkeeper Michel Ramandimbisoa maintained his place in the starting line-up. The 39-year-old headed into the match looking to produce another man-of-the-match performance and help the “Barea” advance to the semi-finals.
At group stage, he was named man of the match three times - against Mauritania, Central Africa Republic and Burkina Faso.
Hosts Kenya were the better team in the first-half where neither side found the back of the net. Madagascar’s goalkeeper Ramandimbisoa was called into action as early as the second minute, stretching well to punch Omar’s feeble free-kick delivery for in the second minute.
Manzur Sulleiman (righ) of Kenya evade a tackle from a Madagascar opponent during the 2024 African Nations Championship match at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani in Nairobi on August 22, 2025.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group
That bright start by the home boys set off an electric atmosphere at Kasarani with the enthusiastic fans cheered every touch of the ball by a Kenyan player. But they equally groaned at every wasted opportunity.
If Kenya were to score in the first-half, it always looked like it would come from the left flank where speedy winger Boniface Muchiri was a constant threat. In what was one of the most fluid moves by the hosts in the first half, Muchiri combined neatly with Marvine Nabwire who picked out Suleiman Manzur.
The midfielder laid the ball to Ogam at the edge of the box but the striker’s shot was blocked, drawing loud sighs of disappointment from the fans.
Goalkeeper Ramandimbisoa once again showed his class in the 39th minute of the match, reacting fast to gather Muchiri’s dangerous cross before Ogam could pounce.
Kenya’s Alphonce Omija (left) vies for the ball with Madagascar’s Nantainaina Mika during their Chan quarter-final match at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, yesterday.
Photo credit: Sila Kiplagat| Nation Media Group
In search of variety, Muchiri and Ben Staley Omondi swapped flanks late in the first-half with ben Staley Omondi moving to the right wing.
Madagascar made the match’s first change at the restart, Nantenaina Andy Rakotondrajoa and Toky Rakotondraibe coming in for Jean Luc Ranaivoson and Andriamirado Andrianarimanana respectively.
But it was Kenya who took the lead in the 48th minute with defender Alphonce Omija rising highest to head home Muchiri’s free-kick. That goal set Kasarani in wild celebrations.
Just moments later, Kenya thought they had added a second but Ryan Ogam’s goal was cancelled for an earlier foul in the build up.
Harambee Stars continued to dictate the exchange but failed to convert their dominance into a second goal.
Razafimaro drew Madagascar level in the 69th minute from the penalty following a handball in Kenya’s the box.
Harambee Stars would have restored their lead in the 80th minute but Nabwire’s shot his the crossbar. McCarthy made several other changes with teenage striker Austine Odongo finally getting minutes in the tournament.
