With the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) fast approaching, Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy has made it clear there will be no excuses. Kenya, drawn in a daunting Group A alongside Morocco, DR Congo, Angola, and Zambia, faces a high-stakes campaign that demands top-tier preparation.
McCarthy defended the national team’s abrupt withdrawal from the CECAFA Four Nations tournament in Tanzania, describing the move as a strategic choice aimed at prioritizing quality over quantity. According to the coach, the decision was crucial to ensure the team remains fully focused and properly conditioned ahead of the tournament set for August 2 to 30.
He expressed dissatisfaction with the training environment in Tanzania, citing poor-quality pitches and inadequate facilities. McCarthy argued that staying on in Tanzania would have resulted in wasted time and limited meaningful preparation. “We would’ve had only two quality training sessions in seven days. That’s simply not enough when you’re facing Africa’s best,” he noted.
The group Kenya is placed in is anything but forgiving. Morocco and DR Congo are both two-time CHAN champions, Angola are the reigning COSAFA Cup winners, and Zambia has long been a regional heavyweight. McCarthy believes that half-hearted preparation in substandard conditions would only set the team up for failure.
Returning home, the Harambee Stars wasted no time. The squad landed in Nairobi on Tuesday and resumed full training by Wednesday. Backed by superior facilities and greater focus, the team now aims to fine-tune tactics, build chemistry, and bolster physical readiness.
McCarthy’s philosophy is clear: avoid shortcuts and excuses. In a group widely dubbed the “Group of Death,” only meticulous planning and hard work will give Kenya a fighting chance. The South African tactician is confident that preparing on home soil provides the right environment to sharpen the team for battle.
With the stakes higher than ever, the Harambee Stars are now in a race against time to hit peak form. The goal is not just to survive the group stages but to prove that Kenya can compete with the continent’s elite.
