Coach McCarthy believes mental strength will carry the day as Stars brace for stern test against Morocco

The coach said that with the kick-off scheduled for 3 p.m., Kenya will aim to secure a place in the next stage and demonstrate they can compete with Africa’s best. “The better we do, the more people will embrace football and the more it will rise among the top-tier sports in Kenya,” McCarthy said.

Harambee Stars began their debut CHAN campaign with a 1–0 win over two-time champions DR Congo before holding Angola to a 1–1 draw in a dramatic second Group A fixture at Kasarani Stadium.

Midfielder Austin Odhiambo, who scored in both games, broke the deadlock in first-half stoppage time of the opener, dribbling past two defenders before beating the goalkeeper to hand Kenya a historic first CHAN victory.

 “We knew starting well would lift the pressure,” McCarthy said, noting the lift from home fans.

Against Angola, Kenya’s resolve was tested early as Joaquim Paciencia put the visitors ahead in the seventh minute, but Odhiambo levelled the scores five minutes later from the penalty spot after being fouled in the box. A red card to Marvin Nabwire in the 21st minute left the hosts with ten men for over an hour, forcing coach Benni McCarthy to reshuffle the squad.  “We had to stay compact and fight for every ball,” the tactician explained.

Angola thought they had snatched victory in stoppage time. Still, the goal was ruled out for offside after a VAR review, ensuring Kenya stayed unbeaten with four points from two matches ahead of their clash against Morocco. McCarthy is weighing possible squad changes. “Sometimes you have to freshen up,” he said. 

“If players have given so much in the first two games, we may consider changes, or we may stick to the same squad.”

Slow starts have been a concern, but the coach hopes to avoid them against a Moroccan side, whom he described as “not only the strongest in the group, but possibly in the tournament entirely.”

Drawing from his playing days, he said, “Even for me back in the day, these moments didn’t bother me. But for players experiencing a big stage for the first time, it takes time to adjust and find their comfort zone. Hopefully, we won’t start slow and nervous.”

The absence of Wabwire will be felt, but McCarthy is confident others will step in. Wabwire’s dismissal after a straight red card during Thursday’s Kenya–Angola clash at Kasarani Stadium left the hosts battling with ten men, shifting the momentum in favour of the visitors as the crowd’s roar turned to anxious murmurs.

 “Each player wants to step in. We will assess the fitness levels of the team and fill the role Marvin is leaving. We will be best prepared,” he said.

McCarthy knows Morocco’s Atlas Lions, five-time CHAN participants and champions in 2018 and 2020, will be difficult to break down.

 “We need to keep our midfield and defensive line tight,” he said. “We will let them change their game style from the first to the last minute.” 

Captain Aboud Omar underlined the team’s ambition. “We are here to fly the flag high,” he said. “We shall give our best.”

He is also confident that home support will help. While Morocco head coach Tarik Sektioui praised his own team’s readiness, McCarthy insists mental strength will carry the day. Morocco began their quest for a third CHAN title with a solid 2-0 victory over Angola at Nyayo Stadium on Sunday. 

He also addressed the challenge of playing in Nairobi’s altitude.  “We discussed it with the players. They showed responsibility and a strong personality. Coming a week before the competition helped us adapt and prepare physically,” he explained.

He added: “In life, just because someone has better organisation doesn’t mean they will win. It’s about who has the stronger will. Tomorrow, it’s eleven against eleven. For us, it’s about coming together, showing how hard we must compete, and believing we can prevail.”

The captain, Mohammed Mrimat, summed up the team’s objective for the tournament: “To all interested in football, we would like to give the best in ourselves, and that will remain the goal.”

 “We played against a team that had a large number of fans. I think we shall get the three points,” he added.