CHAN 2024: Harambee Stars face Group of Death test

Harambee Stars provisional squad was unveiled on Thursday 10 July (C) FKF Media

By Erick Kariuki
Thursday, July 17, 2025

Kenya’s Harambee Stars face a tough road at the 2024 African Nations Championship, having been drawn in a challenging group featuring Morocco, DR Congo, Angola, and Zambia. With all matches set for Kasarani and only locally-based players eligible, the pressure is on coach Benni McCarthy’s home-grown squad to deliver.

Kenya’s Harambee Stars are gearing up for a tough campaign at the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), having landed in what many are calling the “Group of Death.” All of Kenya’s group stage matches will be played at Nairobi’s Kasarani Stadium, with head coach Benni McCarthy’s side set to take on continental heavyweights DR Congo, Angola, Morocco, and Zambia.

With CHAN rules restricting squads to locally-based players, McCarthy faces a formidable task preparing a home-grown team to match some of Africa’s best.

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Kenya will open their campaign on Sunday, August 3, against DR Congo. The two teams last met in a friendly in June 2019 that ended 1-1, with Michael Olunga scoring for Kenya before Arthur Masuaku equalised late. That squad, led by Frenchman Sébastien Migné, featured experienced internationals such as Victor Wanyama, Joash Onyango, and Ayub Timbe—players unavailable for CHAN due to eligibility restrictions.

Only Abud Omar, now the CHAN team captain, featured in that match, while goalkeeper Farouk Shikhalo was on the bench. Their experience will be key in guiding a relatively young and domestically sourced squad.

On Thursday, August 7, Kenya will face Angola - opponents last encountered during the 2011 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Kenya secured a 2-1 comeback win at Nyayo Stadium in the first leg, with McDonald Mariga scoring the winner. However, Angola won the reverse fixture 1-0 in Luanda and went on to top the group, with Kenya finishing third.

That qualifying run remains a painful memory for Kenyan fans, one the current squad will be eager to rewrite on home soil.

Kenya’s third group match, on Sunday, August 10, will be against tournament favourites Morocco. The two sides last clashed in a 2014 friendly in Marrakech, where Kenya held the North Africans to a goalless first half before conceding three goals in the final 13 minutes.

Morocco, two-time CHAN champions, remain one of the continent’s most technically disciplined teams and will pose a significant challenge to McCarthy’s men.

The group stage will conclude on Sunday, August 17, with a clash against regional rivals Zambia. The footballing history between the two nations stretches back to the early 1960s. Kenya’s 3-2 win over Northern Rhodesia in 1964 was symbolic, as it marked Zambia’s final match under British rule. A year later, Kenya defeated an independent Zambia 4-2 in their first official international.

More recently, Kenya stunned Zambia 2-0 in the 2024 COSAFA Cup, with goals from Austine Odhiambo and Patrick Otieno. While that result may offer confidence, the stakes at CHAN are far higher.

McCarthy recently trimmed his provisional squad following a behind-closed-doors friendly against former Kariobangi Sharks players, where Kenya lost 3-1 over three halves. The result prompted swift changes, with six players dropped and several new faces brought in.

Among the additions are Shabana FC’s Austin Odongo, Bryne Odhiambo and Kenya Police FC midfielder Marvin Nabwire.

Dropped from the squad were Brian Opondo (Tusker FC), Keith Imbali (Shabana), Edward Omondi (Sofapaka), Stafford Odhiambo and Yakeen Muteheli (Ulinzi Stars).

With the tournament being played on home soil and expectations running high, Harambee Stars know they have it all to prove. The stage is set for a defining campaign.