Byrne Omondi was named the man of the match in the Kenya vs Morocco CHAN 2024 clash.
In a soccer spectacle that will go down in Kenya’s history, 10-man Harambee sides hammered two-time CHAN champions Morocco 1-0. The goal came courtesy of Tusker goal poacher Ryan Ogam in the closing stages of the first half.
Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy made numerous changes from the team that started against Angola last Thursday.
He rested the likes of the team’s captain Abud Omar and the mercurial Austin Odhiambo and gave other players a chance to prove themselves.
The South African head coach with with an attacking lineup that had Ryan Ogam, Boniface Muchiri and
The Atlas Lions started the match on a high pace, causing the Kenya national men’s football team constant problems.
The Tarik Sektioui coached side could have opened the scoring within just five minutes but the goal post saved the co-hosts.
As the proceedings went on, Harambee Stars players started to get into the game, fighting for every loose ball and controlling the midfield.
The Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) forward and his Tusker FC counterpart Ryan Ogam made some lovely runs but the Moroccan backline did not give them any room to penetrate.
The hard work from the Harambee Stars players eventually paid off in the 42nd minute when Ogam received the ball inside Morocco’s penalty box before unleashing a ferocious shot that flew past Morocco’s goal keeper before kissing the net to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.
However, the situation got tricky for Kenya at the stroke of half time when Chrispine Erambo was red carded after a VAR review.
The referee made the decision to sent Erambo for an early shower after concluding that his tackle was a dangerous one.
Nevertheless, Harambee Stars players were able to protect their slender lead and went on to the half time break in control of the encounter.
At the start of the second half, both McCarthy and Sektioui made a couple of changes in their squad in a bid to enhance their chances of emerging victorious.
The substitution energized the Harambee Stars squad, who nearly got a penalty in the 54th minute after Boniface Muchiri was brought down at the edge of the Moroccan 18-yard box. Nonetheless, the referee decided to give the Kenyan team a free kick after reviewing the incident on the VAR.
Harambee Stars’ next fixture
After the win against the Northerners, the Kenya Soccer team players will shift their focus to the final Group A game against Zambia.
The Zambia vs Harambee Stars match is scheduled to be played at the Moi International Sports Centre (MISC) Kasarani on Sunday, August 17.
Kenya will be seeking to finish their group assignments brilliantly against a Zambian side that is yet to win a match at this years’ CHAN edition.
How Harambee Stars lined in this match
Omondi, Siraj, Kibwage, Otieno, Boniface, Erambo, Bandi, Ogam, Stanley, Manzur, S. Owino
Morocco’s starting 11 that played against Kenya football team
Al Harrar, Bach, Louadni, Ait Ouarkhane, Arrassi, Belammari, Riahi, Mouloua, Moufid, Hrimat (Captain), Elmahraoui
