CHAN 2024: Harambee Stars eye top spot as they face Zambia in final Group A match
Speaking ahead of the Zambia clash, head coach Benni McCarthy made it clear that his side is not content with merely reaching the knockout rounds.
Harambee Stars are set to face Zambia on Sunday in their final Group A match of the CHAN 2024 tournament, with qualification to the quarterfinals already secured.
The team, making its debut in the competition, has defied expectations to sit at the top of the group with seven points after three matches.
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Kenya opened their campaign with a 1-0 victory over DR Congo, before playing to a 1-1 draw with Angola in a dramatic contest where they finished with ten men.
They then edged Morocco 1-0, sealing passage to the quarterfinals for the first time in history. Having conceded just one goal and shown resilience despite two red cards in the group stage, Harambee Stars have been one of the tournament’s surprise packages.
Speaking ahead of the Zambia clash, head coach Benni McCarthy made it clear that his side is not content with merely reaching the knockout rounds.
“We’re already in the quarter-finals, but we are looking for that one crucial thing to top the group,” McCarthy said during the pre-match press conference."
“From the start of the tournament, people said this was the group of death and expected us to have zero points after four games. But now we are at the top, and tomorrow is a must-win for us. We want to send a message that this is not by luck, but by sheer hard work, dedication and determination.”
McCarthy also underlined his faith in the squad, explaining that players earn their places on merit. “I always reward hard work. Whoever wants it the most in training, that’s who plays. I believe in the quality of my players and try to give everyone an opportunity, but in the end, they select themselves with their effort.”
Assistant captain Daniel Sakari echoed his coach’s determination, noting that the players are focused on finishing strong. “We’ve been working hard and have shown we are a good team in the past three matches,” he said. “To be a great team, we have to be consistently good, and that’s what we want to maintain.”
If Harambee Stars defeat Zambia, they will finish as Group A winners and remain in Nairobi for a quarterfinal tie at Kasarani, likely against Mauritania. A second-place finish, however, would send them to Dar es Salaam to face hosts Tanzania.
For perspective, in the three host nations, only Kenya and Tanzania have already qualified for the quarter finals. If Uganda win their match on Monday against South Africa, then they will have a spot at the quarter finals.
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