Ready, or not, Group of Death, here we come

Harambee Stars players; Mahammed Siraj (Left), Marvin Nabwire (Centre) and Daniel Sakari  during a training session at Kasarani Stadium Annex as the team prepares for the CHAN 2024 Tournament on July 16, 2025. [Stafford Ondego, Standard]

Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy is confident Kenya will be ready and up to the task when they face off against DR Congo on August 3, when the 2024 African Nations Championships (CHAN) kick off at Kasarani.

While Tanzania will host the opening ceremony of the tourney at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium on August 2, McCarthy, who said Kenya has their work cut out in their ‘Group of Death’, believes they will get their campaign on the front foot if their current camp is anything to go by.

Kenya headlines Group A, which consists of DR Congo, Angola and Morocco, heavyweights and nations ranked above the hosts in the latest FIFA Rankings.

Sitting at 109, Kenya is 24 places behind Angola (85), 48 places behind DR Congo (61) and 97 places behind Morocco, which are 12th in the world and first in Africa.

Speaking on Wednesday, at Kasarani Annex, McCarthy said it would be a nice challenge against DR Congo and Morocco, who have won the tournament twice each in the past and also facing Angola, the current COSAFA champions.

“We are ready for the challenge. We need to show how far we have come as Kenyans, and we want to be one of the surprises.

“I want this tourney to be a stepping stone to these talented Kenyan players. I individually got an opportunity to move to Ajax when I featured in the African U20 back then, and I hope these players will use this tournament to showcase themselves. You never know who is watching,” he said.

McCarthy added that he will name his squad on July 23 and hopes everyone will be healthy, praising the resilience and improvement from the local boys.

Stars defender Alphonce Omija added that the team has jelled well at the camp, and they are aiming even higher.

“Maximum preparations are going on in what has been a good camping session for all of us as we try to build team chemistry, rectify common mistakes and foster unity,” said the Gor Mahia defender.

Omija urged all his teammates to take CHAN seriously and not to downplay the continental tournament. The defender believes agents and coaches will be watching from all over Africa and beyond, a rare chance for Kenyan players to sell themselves to the world.

“Individually, we need to be very good and show the coaches and agents who will be watching that we have talent in Kenya. It’s a marketing platform for us players individually, and we need to take up the chance because millions of people will be watching. You never know!” said Omija.

Omija added that it would be nice to have Kasarani full to the brim when they play because he believes in the force of the 12th man.