Few sporting journeys are as emotionally charged as the one the Harambee Stars are currently undertaking ahead of the much-anticipated CHAN 2024 tournament. This is not simply another training camp or a routine tournament buildup. For Benni McCarthy, the new head coach, and a generation of domestic league players hungry for legacy, it is a rare shot at making Kenyan football history on home soil. The stakes have never felt higher, nor the expectations more bittersweet.
A fresh start under Benni McCarthy
The appointment of Benni McCarthy earlier this year injected energy and fresh perspective into a side often battered by inconsistency and near-misses. With the African Nations Championship, reserved exclusively for players from their domestic leagues, set to be co-hosted for the first time by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, anticipation in Nairobi and beyond is palpable. The challenge is as daunting as it is inspiring. Kenya has never before graced the CHAN finals and now hosts Group A’s heavyweights at the newly refurbished Kasarani Stadium.
McCarthy’s provisional squad, drawn entirely from the FKF Premier League, features league standouts and rising stars in almost every department. Kakamega Homeboyz’s Moses Shummah, league top scorer with 17 goals, headlines an attack bolstered by Emmanuel Osoro and Ryan Ogam, who scored 16 and 15 goals respectively.
Provisional squad selection divides opinion
The naming of the squad was always going to attract scrutiny. True to form, McCarthy’s choices have sparked robust debate among fans and pundits. Heated discussions centered around the omission of Shabana FC’s Brian Michira, the FKF Premier League’s Mozzart Bet Cup Golden Boot winner, whose 17 goals and 8 assists made him one of the most prolific forwards in Kenya. Supporters on social media accused selectors of bias, questioning the integrity of a process that left out such in-form players.
Allegations that coaches had ignored Shabana matches were met with reminders that squad selection is never a perfect science. “McCarthy knows why he did not pick some players. He is the coach, let us give him time. Football is not as easy as you guys think,” wrote one fan, typifying the mix of skepticism and cautious support that now surrounds the new technical team. McCarthy himself has responded to queries with measured clarity, insisting his selections are about chemistry, tactical needs, and merit.
Changing faces: last-minute call-ups and tactical tweaks
As the training camp intensified, McCarthy shocked many by trimming his original 30-man list and introducing late additions. Most notably, Kenya Police FC’s versatile midfielder Marvin Nabwire found himself drafted after excelling in a friendly, replacing omissions such as Kelly Madada and Keith Imbali. Nabwire’s story is both bittersweet and emblematic of the opportunity that CHAN represents. “I believed I would get the call, so I kept training after the season. Every player deserves a chance, but I am ready,” he reflected. These words resonate with any local talent hoping to seize a rare moment in the national spotlight.
Bryne Omondi, the experienced goalkeeper, returned to the fold at the expense of younger counterparts. Such selections reflect McCarthy’s clear preference for balancing raw talent with battle-tested composure.
Veteran presence and off-field inspiration
While the camp has welcomed new blood, there has also been room for wisdom and mentorship. The presence of seasoned midfielder Anthony Akumu, training only to maintain fitness as clarified by McCarthy, offered invaluable guidance to emerging talents like Alpha Onyango. The Gor Mahia midfielder, aiming to use CHAN as a springboard to a professional move abroad, credits Akumu’s advice and mentorship during camp for raising his own game.
And then there was the nation’s leader. President William Ruto’s impromptu visit to the camp brought with it both gravitas and expectation. The president’s words, assuring the squad of government support and urging them to turn hosting history into conquest, echoed beyond the training pitches. “Know that the whole country is behind you. Let it be historic, if we are hosting it for the first time, then we must win.” The resonance of those words is not lost on a generation so eager to make Kenyans proud.
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The road to readiness: build-up tournaments and final tests
To refine tactics and chemistry, the Harambee Stars are taking part in the CECAFA Four Nations Cup in Arusha, Tanzania. From July 24 to 27, Kenya will face Tanzania, Uganda and Sudan—regional rivals whose playing styles offer a preview of what awaits in CHAN’s opening rounds. As Omija, the young Gor Mahia defender, observed, “The debate should not be on Kenya’s chances of progressing, but on how to better prepare for the tournament and win our matches.”
These pre-tournament duels provide a crucial crucible not only for technical assessment but also for building belief. As the squad sharpens at high altitude and at Kasarani’s freshly unveiled grounds, the optimism within camp is punctuated by a sense of urgent purpose. “We have to ensure we go far in the competition, especially with home support,” Mohammed Bajaber declared—a sentiment shared across the squad.
Group of Death or moment of destiny?
Group A’s daunting lineup—Morocco, DR Congo, Angola, and Zambia—reads like a checklist of African club football royalty. Kenya stands as a historic underdog. However, the tone from the camp is defiantly upbeat. Defender Omija, for one, dismisses underdog labels. “Everyone is already giving us the underdog tag because of how established and strong our opponents are, but that should not be the case,” he said pointedly. The atmosphere, described by midfielder Alpha Onyango as “positive and competitive,” reflects a team unburdened by expectation, motivated by the chance to shift Kenya’s regional football narrative.
As the CAF inspection team tours East Africa’s stadiums and training facilities, and with the tournament’s opening match looming, the sense of occasion is unmistakable. Kasarani has been transformed and the tournament final will unfold there—home field is not just an advantage but a symbol of national pride.
Unity, discipline, and the pursuit of legacy
What, ultimately, separates potential from reality is attitude and unity. If the words of Onyango ring true—“Follow the coach’s instructions, stay focused, give 100 percent in every game”—then Kenya’s dreams need not be fanciful. With tactical discipline, a blend of youth and experience, and the emotional lift from a country hungry for continental recognition, the Harambee Stars’ journey is about more than winning matches. It is about proving the value of local talent, igniting a footballing renaissance, and giving fans a story to believe in.
As kickoff nears, all that remains is belief—the kind that resounds from Kasarani’s terraces, from grassroots academies, and from every Kenyan who has ever dared to dream on a dusty village pitch. For the Harambee Stars, CHAN 2024 is more than a tournament. It is a once-in-a-generation moment to rewrite the script and claim their place in African football’s rich tapestry.
