Bafana Bafana legend Benni McCarthy had a dream start at the 2024 African Nations Championships (CHAN 2024) as his Kenyan team secured a crucial 1-0 win over DR Congo.
Kenya started their campaign in front of home fans at the Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi and with pressure on McCarthy to begin positively, his players appeared to struggle with stage fright.
The Harambee Stars were sloppy in possession in the early exchanges as they allowed DR Congo to run rings around them and the Congolese had the ball in the net after five minutes but it was ruled out by VAR for a foul in the build-up.
How did Harambee Stars secure the win?
Congo then kept the pressure but it was Kenya who had the first real opportunity when Austin Odhiambo found Masoud Juma but the former Cape Town City striker missed from close range.
In the 35th minute, David Sakwa had a chance for Kenya on the edge of the box but blasted his shot over the bar and three minutes later, Daniel Sakari brought in a delicious cross but Ryan Ogam could not connect well with a diving header.
However, in the four minutes added on before halftime, Harambee Stars sent fans into a frenzy with a well-worked goal, scored by Odhiambo.
Sakari started the move on the right side before a good exchange of passes between Juma and Odhiambo, and the Gor Mahia midfielder remained composed, got into the box, before slotting into the bottom corner to break the deadlock.
Kenya have tough matches coming up
That is how it stayed as even an improvement from DR Congo in the second half did not break Kenya, who held firm to secure all three points.
It is the second win for McCarthy in five matches in charge of Kenya and gives him and his team motivation ahead of their subsequent matches against Angola, Morocco and Zambia.
Kenya need to finish among the top two in a tough Group A to advance to the quarter-final and will be targeting three more points against COSAFA Cup winners Angola on Thursday August 7.
