Kenya Harambee Stars head coach Benni MacCarthy reacts against Zambia Chipolopolo during their 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) Tournament match at Kasarani Stadium on August 17, 2025. [Stafford Ondego, Standard]
Kenyans can only look ahead with hope after the Harambee Stars’ impressive debut at the 2024 African Nations Championship (Chan) ended in heartbreak against Madagascar on Friday night at Kasarani Stadium.
The Stars, making their first appearance in the continental competition, saw their dream of a semi-final place slip away after a tense 1-1 draw over 120 minutes ended in a penalty shootout defeat.
Madagascar won 4-3 on spot-kicks, with Toky Rakotondraibe burying the decisive penalty after Alphonce Omija missed for Kenya.
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Despite the painful exit, head coach Benni McCarthy chose to focus on the positives, insisting that Kenyan football is finally moving in the right direction.
“Nothing but proud of what we achieved. The players gave everything every single day in training and every match,” McCarthy said after the game. “It was really good but football is like that, the lottery of penalties sometimes doesn’t go your way.”
The match itself was as dramatic as the entire tournament journey. Roared on by a capacity Kasarani crowd, Kenya went ahead when Omija rose highest to head home midway through the first half.
The joy, however, was short-lived, as Madagascar equalised from the penalty spot to take the game into extra time and eventually the shootout.
McCarthy was gracious in defeat, praising the visitors’ composure under pressure.
“It is a bit tough to go out this way. We expected a tough game but didn’t expect them to be this way. Their movement off the ball was great. I want to congratulate Madagascar for their passage to the semis,” he said.
“If you come to Kenya and can perform at such a stage with the fans and the noise, they deserve huge credit for having nerves of steel, especially in the penalty shootout.”
Kenya’s journey to the quarter-finals was one of the most remarkable stories of this year’s Chan. Drawn in the so-called “Group of Death” with Morocco, Zambia, DR Congo and Angola, the Stars defied all odds to finish top with 10 points from four matches.
Their campaign began with a narrow 1-0 win over DR Congo, Austine Odhiambo scoring the winner. They then showed immense resilience against Angola, battling to a 1-1 draw despite playing with 10 men for more than 70 minutes.
The defining moment came against Morocco, when Ryan Ogam’s goal secured another famous 1-0 win, again with Kenya reduced to 10 men. That result confirmed a quarter-final berth before Ogam struck once more against Zambia to seal top spot in the group.
The young striker’s goals, alongside the solid defending and teamwork of the entire squad, turned Kenya from outsiders to genuine contenders.
Fans began to believe that perhaps, just perhaps, Harambee Stars could end decades of disappointment by reaching a continental semi-final for the first time since 1987.
That dream ended at Kasarani, but McCarthy believes the future is brighter than ever.
“The fans have been incredible and pushed us really much. Kenyan football is on the up, the talent we saw over this Chan tournament has been immense. Everyone should be proud,” he said.
McCarthy added that the progress achieved during the tournament must now be a foundation for the future.
“We feel disappointed now but when you look back and see what we achieved topping the toughest group, today was just one hurdle too many,” he said.
The penalty defeat may sting for now, but for Kenya, Chan 2024 will be remembered as the tournament that gave fans a reason to hope again.