Kenya’s Harambee Stars are set to kick off their maiden CHAN appearance with a high-stakes clash against two-time champions DR Congo on Sunday, August 3. The much-anticipated Group A opener will take place at a packed Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi, with fans eager to witness history unfold.
This marks Kenya’s debut in the African Nations Championship (CHAN), a tournament reserved for players active in their domestic leagues. They face a seasoned DR Congo side, competing in their seventh edition and one of the most successful nations in the competition’s history.
The home side will be under the stewardship of coach Benni McCarthy, who has had a mixed start to his tenure. In his first four matches in charge, McCarthy has managed one win, two draws, and a loss. Notably, Kenya drew 3-3 with The Gambia and lost 2-1 to Gabon in the World Cup qualifiers, before earning a 2-1 win over Chad in June after a goalless draw in the first of their two friendly encounters.
Preparations for CHAN, however, have not been ideal. Key attackers Moses Shumah and Emmanuel Osoro have moved to Zambian club Power Dynamos, while winger Mohammed Bajaber signed for Tanzania’s Simba SC, leaving the Harambee Stars without some of their most potent offensive options.
On the other hand, DR Congo have been in fine form, winning their last five matches, including impressive victories over Mali and Madagascar. However, their CHAN squad is largely different, as the players who featured in those matches are not eligible for this tournament. Coach Otis Ngoma has expressed concern over limited preparation time, but remains confident in the blend of youth and experience within his team.
In head-to-head meetings, DR Congo have dominated Kenya with four wins from their previous seven encounters. Kenya have managed two wins while one match ended in a draw their most recent fixture in 2019, which ended 1-1.
The match kicks off at 3:00 pm EAT at Kasarani Stadium. Fans in Kenya can watch the game live on KBC TV, while regional viewers can tune in via TBC (Tanzania), UBC (Uganda), FUFA TV, Azam TV, or SuperSport. This is a golden opportunity for Harambee Stars to make a statement in front of a home crowd and rewrite their history against a formidable opponent.
