Few football stories have gripped Kenya like Harambee Stars in CHAN 2024. On home soil, a group of locally based players carried a nation through a brave, breathless run that ended in the chill of a penalty shootout, yet awakened a belief that had long felt out of reach.
A debut that rewrote expectations
This was Kenya’s first ever appearance at the African Nations Championship, a debut earned by co-hosting the tournament with Tanzania and Uganda. Drawn in a daunting Group A with DR Congo, Morocco, Angola and Zambia, the Stars were supposed to struggle, not stride. Instead, they finished top of the pool, unbeaten, and did it with grit and maturity that belied their inexperience.
They opened with a 1-0 win over DR Congo, drew 1-1 with Angola despite playing more than 70 minutes with 10 men, then edged two-time champions Morocco 1-0 after another red card forced them to play the second half a man down. A late strike against Zambia sealed a 1-0 victory and first place, proof that this side could manage moments, suffer together, and still find a way, a trait that felt like a signature of Benni McCarthy’s touch.
Kasarani night of fine margins vs Madagascar
Quarter-finals in knockout football come down to details. At a packed Kasarani, Kenya led through Alphonce Omija’s header, Madagascar equalised from the spot, and after 120 minutes it was the lottery. The shootout ended 4-3 to Madagascar, with Toky Rakotondraibe converting the decisive kick after misses by Mike Kibwage and Omija, and a key save from goalkeeper Ramandimbisoa “Toldo” Lalain’arijaka Michel. Mohammed Siraj, who had been a lively substitute on the left wing and scored his penalty, offered a candid reflection on the loss, admitting that complacency had crept in after Kenya’s opener.
Siraj’s honesty cut through the noise. “We thought we had won the game when we went a goal up but they equalised and made it harder for us. Before long, we were taking penalties, and it was over for us.” He added that the tournament boosted his confidence and urged fans to rally behind the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Gambia and Seychelles, a reminder that this journey is not a one-off but part of a longer arc.
There was soul-searching too. Analysis of the shootout pointed to an unusual pattern, all five Kenyan penalties were taken by defenders, a scenario that raised questions over the attacking unit’s leadership in the moment and the pecking order under pressure. In a sport where such choices are often settled at training, this detail will linger as a small, telling snapshot of game management under stress.
Unity, belief and the Benni McCarthy effect
For a decade, goalkeeper Farouk Shikhalo has worn the shirt, yet he was unequivocal, this was the most tightly bonded national team group of his career. “I have never seen this level of teamwork elsewhere. The coach believes in everyone, and we have been supporting each other madly.” It was a powerful endorsement of the dressing-room culture that McCarthy and his staff crafted, a culture built on teamwork, accountability and the idea that every player mattered.
On the pitch, resilience was the backbone. Kenya played long stretches with 10 men against Angola and Morocco, still took four points, and never looked rattled by adversity. By the time the quarter-final ended, they could claim a mark of pride that will stand through the tournament, they were the only team that scored in every match. Records do not erase the sting of defeat, but they do frame a campaign that was coherent and competitive at every step.
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What went right and what must improve
As with any ambitious run, scrutiny followed the exit. Some supporters and analysts questioned tactical calls in the quarter-final, notably the decision to leave Austin Odhiambo, widely regarded as the team’s most creative midfielder, on the bench, and the substitutions that removed Ryan Ogam and Boniface Muchiri for fresh legs that struggled to re-ignite the attack. The choice to grant the squad two off days after the Morocco win also sparked debate, given the distractions that trailed, player meetings with clubs, deals and publicity that may have scattered focus at a sensitive stage. These are not definitive verdicts, yet they are valuable talking points for a staff that has otherwise earned deep credit for clarity of plan throughout the group stage.
Off the pitch, the tournament exposed logistical bruises that must be addressed before bigger stages arrive. There were security breaches around Kasarani, crowd management strains, and ticketing irregularities, including system failures and reported bot purchases that led to third-party resales at inflated prices. CAF responded with fines, including 50,000 dollars, approximately Ksh 6.5 million, for the Morocco match, part of a total that reached about Ksh 9 million, and directed the organisers to carry out fan sensitisation and create fan zones around Nairobi. Cleaning up ticketing and access is not just about compliance, it is about trust and safety.
Money on the table and what it means
Progress to the last eight carries a financial sting and a financial springboard. CAF’s prize hike puts Kenya’s quarter-final take at Ksh 58 million, a windfall that many hope will be channelled into the domestic game and youth pathways. Yet the ledger is more complex. FKF President Hussein Mohammed explained that tournament allowances were settled, save for a handful of players to be cleared, presidential bonuses were paid, with each player and member of the technical bench pocketing about Ksh 5 million, and that the federation must first settle urgent obligations, including CAF sanctions just under Ksh 13 million, before deciding on any remaining prize allocation. He added that official confirmation from CAF on the exact prize disbursement is pending and that the federation will prioritise needs, with the total inflows around the team across the campaign estimated at roughly Ksh 232 million.
Shikhalo captured what that means at a personal level. “To earn five million shillings in 15 days is a blessing. Not even the President himself earns that in 15 days. If you plan accordingly, that could be life-changing money.” For local-based players, CHAN is not just exposure, it is material change, and the goalkeeper expects multiple teammates to attract moves abroad on the back of this performance.
The human stories that will carry forward
Mike Kibwage’s arc summed up the thin line between glory and grief. His penalty was saved by “Toldo,” frustration spilled into a kick of the air, then came perspective. “Football can be cruel. Some pains take a while to settle in,” he wrote. “We gave it our all, wanted to make the country proud. Sadly we had to exit in a painful way.” Yet he chose hope, “We can only look up with pride, because this is only the beginning. Asanteni.” As he moves to Gor Mahia, his leadership will be judged not by one miss but by the steadiness he brings into a club and a national setup hungry for continuity and standards.
Siraj, one of the breakout performers, spoke like a player who had crossed a threshold. “I have grown so much in confidence. This is a different level compared to the KPL, which has made me better as a player. I have learnt it is never over until it is really over.” He also called on fans to stay with the team into September’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Gambia and Seychelles, a timely plea because momentum is fragile and support is a force multiplier when the margins are tight. In a squad that felt unified and empowered, his voice lands as both testimony and invitation.
A proud record and a platform for September
History will remember that Kenya exited in the quarter-finals, but it should also record that this team set a benchmark of consistency, scored in every game, beat heavyweight opponents, and showed poise with 10 men in high-stress situations. Those are bankable traits as the Stars pivot to the World Cup qualifiers. There was even an officiating storm in the aftermath, with a Kenyan official lodging a complaint to CAF over disputed decisions in the Madagascar tie, a reminder that narratives can splinter after knockout drama, yet the squad’s response has remained measured, focused and forward looking.
In a results business, belief often follows evidence. This tournament delivered evidence, that Kenya’s local core can compete, that McCarthy’s methods travel, and that the crowd can be a twelfth man without tipping into chaos. The next step is to stitch that belief into a habit, to turn three weeks of excellence into a season-by-season standard, and to keep building the pipeline that feeds the national team even when the lights are not as bright, a process that thrives on continuity.
What Kenya must carry forward
- Keep the same intensity and concentration after taking the lead, then manage the game to the final whistle,
- Create clearer penalty hierarchies and leadership among attackers for big moments,
- Strengthen matchday operations, from ticketing systems to crowd control.
Final word
In the end, CHAN 2024 felt like a mirror and a map. It reflected a team with character and chemistry, and it outlined a route to something greater if the lessons are absorbed. There is money to steward wisely, logistics to refine, and a fan base to keep engaged. Above all, there is a squad that believes, and a coach whose fingerprints are everywhere, from structure to spirit. That is the enduring imprint of Benni McCarthy, and it is the best reason to think that Kasarani’s heartbreak can still be the beginning of a different kind of Kenyan story.
