Harambee Stars fired up ahead of crucial showdown with Madagascar
Kenya heads into the tie unbeaten, having topped Group A with three wins and one draw, while Madagascar secured second place in Group B after late resurgence wins over the Central African Republic (2-0) and Burkina Faso (2-1).
The Harambee Stars are brimming with confidence ahead of their highly anticipated CHAN 2024 quarterfinal clash against Madagascar on Friday at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.
Head Coach Benni McCarthy, speaking during the pre-match press conference on Thursday, exuded belief in his side’s readiness, insisting that Kenya has done its homework on their opponents and will be fully prepared for the decisive encounter.
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“We have done our homework on our opponents and know their strengths and weaknesses. It depends on how well we prepare and how mentally ready our team will be,” McCarthy said. “Tomorrow it’s our turn to deliver and give fans a better part of history. We have to have the perfect game plan and perfect execution to make Kenyans happy and progress further.”
Kenya heads into the tie unbeaten, having topped Group A with three wins and one draw, while Madagascar secured second place in Group B after late resurgence wins over the Central African Republic (2-0) and Burkina Faso (2-1). The island nation had a shaky start, drawing with Mauritania before losing to Tanzania.
McCarthy underlined the high expectations within the Harambee Stars camp, stressing that the players are motivated and ready to rise to the occasion.
Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy. (Photo: Erick Kariuki)
“Our expectations are very high. As a team, if you don’t have goals and expectations for yourself, you will have shortcomings. We know exactly what we want to achieve. Madagascar will just be another obstacle to what we want,” he added.
Assistant captain Daniel Sakari echoed the coach’s sentiments, saying the players are focused despite the social media buzz surrounding their impressive campaign.
“We are not distracted by the social media hype. We are fully focused on the task ahead, which is the match against Madagascar. In the world of sports, you must know how your opponent plays and prepare well,” Sakari said.
The Harambee Stars will be boosted by a fully fit squad, with McCarthy confirming no injury concerns, though midfielder Chris Erambo remains suspended following a red card against Morocco.
Looking beyond the quarterfinals, McCarthy hinted that several players from the current CHAN squad could graduate to the senior team for the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
“Don’t be surprised to see this squad progressing to the international stage. Don’t be surprised if three or four of this team graduate to our main team,” he noted.
Kick-off for the Kenya vs Madagascar quarterfinal is set for 5:00 pm at Kasarani, where the Harambee Stars will be chasing a place in the semifinals and a new chapter in Kenyan football history.
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