Aasai

Harambee Stars coach Benjamin McCarthy used great skills to ensure that Kenya plays against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and has been his first victory in the African Cup for players participating in home leagues (CHAN 2024).

Kenya on Sunday won the Group A match that was knocked out of the Kasarani field through Gor Mahia goalkeeper Austin Odhiambo in the third minute after the first 45 minutes were completed.

Odhiambo got the ball from Masud Juma after Daniel Sakari defeated DR Congo players on the right and scored the ball that had overwhelmed goalkeeper Brudel Efonge.

McCarthy organized a squad that was fast but not once, the central column seemed to be overwhelmed by DR Congo footballers.

Odhiambo and fellow Gor alpha Onyango seemed to have a difficult time withstanding the pace of DRC Leopards players.
On the other hand, Masoud Juma also tried the offspring but attacker Ryan Ogam had not been in time for DR Congos defenders removing the ball.

This burden was what kept Kenya closed in the fifth minute after the match started when captain Aboud Omar lost the ball out of the box and Jephte Kitamba scored in DR Congo.

Kenya recovered after the referee looked at VAR and cleared the goal because Daniel Sakari had been trampled on the goal.

Kenya entered the game literally after half an hour and carried out intense attacks with the balls falling to Masud Juma and David Sakwa.Before Kenya scored, Ogam had a clean pass by Sakwa but the Tusker attacker released a bad fireworks.

In the second half DR Congo had a great deal of ball but the changes made by McCarthy made sure Kenya protects its leadership.
Marvin Nabwire and Boniface Muchiri who replaced the position of Manzur Okwaro and Juma, did a great job in controlling the ball and ensuring the Stars win the tournament.

With seven minutes left in the match, Kenya was a chance to add a second goal and finish the game or sink DR Congo completely but were unsuccessful.

Odhiambo kicked Ben Stanley the ball after getting behind DR Congos defenders. With the only DR Congo goalkeeper, Stanley hit the top ball that went out when the fans were standing.

After winning the victory, Kenya now needs to take three points against Angola on Wednesday to qualify for the quarter -finals.

"We have played well and even when the pressure was over, the youth controlled the game and slowed the DR Congo football players," said McCarthy.
"There is no chance to celebrate but we deserve to organize and discover Angolas way of hitting.

DR Congo counterpart Otis Ngoma admitted that his young men had failed to create chances of closing and penetrating the Kenyan fortress.

"Now we must wake up and win our next match against Morocco.The match was attended by President William Ruto, opposition leader Raila Odinga and a football fans who cheered and celebrated the home youth goal.

The victory now guarantees every Sh1 million Stars player that he promised President William Ruto when he visited the teams camp on Saturday.