NAIROBI, Kenya — The Harambee Stars began their African Nations Championship (CHAN) campaign with a stunning performance, defeating the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) 1-0 in their opening match on home soil.
The crucial win earned Kenya all three points in a thrilling start to the tournament.
The decisive moment came in the 32nd minute when midfielder Austin Odhiambo scored the only goal of the game.
Following a meticulously coordinated team build-up, Odhiambo found the back of the net, igniting a jubilant celebration among the thousands of fans packed into the at a near full capacity Moi International Sports Center Kasarani Stadium on Sunday evening..
The electrifying atmosphere fueled the home team’s confidence as they secured a vital lead before halftime.
With this victory, the Harambee Stars have positioned themselves favorably in the tournament, demonstrating their potential to make a deep run in the competition.
Odhiambo’s first-half strike proved decisive in a tightly-contested Group A opener that saw the hosts overcome a nervy start and assert their place on the continental stage in front of an electric home crowd.
Kenya next face Angola on Thursday, while DR Congo will seek redemption against Morocco.
Despite early possession dominance from the DRC, the hosts remained disciplined and gradually asserted themselves in the match.
The breakthrough came deep into injury time of the first half, when Austin Odhiambo latched onto a pass from David Sakwa.
With a composed left-footed shot, Odhiambo coolly guided the ball into the bottom corner of the net, beating goalkeeper Brudel Efonge.
The goal sent the home crowd into a frenzy and marked a significant moment for the Harambee Stars, who were competing in the CHAN finals for the very first time against one of the tournament’s most successful sides.
Also Read: Understanding the difference between CHAN and AFCON
Determined to find an equalizer, the DRC pushed forward in the second half, dominating set-pieces and creating several close chances, notably through headers from Jonathan Mokonzi and Kitambala. However, the Kenyan defense held firm.
Goalkeeper Byrne Omondi made a crucial save in the 59th minute, tipping Heltone Kayembe’s powerful drive over the bar, while defenders Sylvester Owino and Alphonce Omija expertly repelled a late barrage of Congolese corners.
To protect the narrow lead, head coach Benni McCarthy made a series of tactical substitutions, introducing players like Mike Kibwage and Marvin Nabwire to shore up the midfield and ensure the team remained compact in the final 15 minutes.
The TotalEnergies CHAN is a biennial tournament reserved exclusively for players competing in their country’s domestic leagues.
Kenya’s debut victory highlights the potential of its new generation of local talent on the continental stage.
Group A:
Kenya, Morocco, Angola, DR Congo, Zambia
Group B:
Tanzania, Madagascar, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic
Group C:
Uganda, Niger, Guinea, Algeria, South Africa
Group D:
Senegal, Congo, Sudan, Nigeria
It’s 3rd time lucky for Kenya to stage the regional football tournament after it was stripped of the hosting rights in 2018 due to infrastructural delay and replaced by Morocco, who went on to lift the trophy.
Before then, Kenya was granted the opportunity to play host for the AFCON tournament in 1996, which was later taken to South Africa due to Kenya’s lacklustre infrastructure.
