CHAN2024: Mixed reactions from Kenyans after Harambee Stars' heartbreaking exit
Reading Time: 4min | Sat. 23.08.25. | 19:03
Kenyans expressed their views on social media, while others spoke directly to Mozzart Sport, as sampled in this article
Kenyans posted mixed reactions after Harambee Stars' fairy tale run in the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) came to a crushing end at the hands of Madagascar.
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Kenya faced the Islanders in a quarter-final match played on Friday, 22 August at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, losing the match on post-match penalties.
After a goalless first half, Alphonce Omija broke the deadlock, heading home from a Boniface Muchiri free kick in the 48th minute.
Razafimaro Fenohasina would later equalise from the spot in the 69th minute following a Lewis Bandi handball in the box.
The game saw no more goals, both in regular and extra time, forcing it to go to penalties, where Madagascar won 4-3, having lost only one of their five kicks while Kenya missed two.
Kenyans expressed their views on social media, while others spoke directly to Mozzart Sport, as sampled in this article.
“I felt totally disappointed by McCarthy (Benni) today (Friday evening). He has been good throughout the tournament, but he got it all wrong today.
How could we play with Austin (Odhiambo) on the bench? He is our most creative player. Even from the first half, everyone could see that we needed him on the pitch to carry the ball and offer the much-needed creativity.
When it seemed that we were heading to penalties, again, he was left on the bench, yet he is our best penalty taker.
Equally, the decision to take off Ogam and Muchiri midway through the second half killed the momentum for Kenya,” Ben Wachira told Mozzart Sport.
The disappointment was also shared by Ephie Carol, who felt the semi-final was Kenya's to lose.
“I feel we had all it took to reach the semi-finals, but bottled it all up. Our fielding, to me, was not the best, especially leaving Austin on the bench for the whole game.
Our substitutes also let the coach down. They had little, if not zero, impact on the game.
I am actually more disappointed by our attacking players. How could they just leave defenders alone to take penalties when they were just there?
It speaks much to the level of their confidence and quality. Masud Juma, as one of the most experienced players, for instance, needed to take responsibility,” said Carol.
James Kibande also took issue with McCarthy's substitutions against Madagascar, attributing them to the loss.
![Harambee Stars captain calls out Murang'a Seal striker for celebrating Kenya's CHAN defeat [VIDEO]](https://cdn3.mozzartsport.co.ke/upload/825x464/News/Image/2025_08/1755942015298_Untitled_design_-_2025-08-23T123745.144.jpg)
“The substitutions were very poor, to say the least. We took out Ogam (Ryan), our main man upfront and Muchiri (Boniface), our best attacker of the day, for Odongo (Austin) and Omondi (Edward), who were off-colour.
Omondi and Odongo are not yet ready for such a stage. The only addition we needed was Austin (Odhiambo), and we would have walked our way to the semis,” said Kibande.
Sports scribe Rodgers Eshitemi, on his part, noted the deficiencies in the Kenya team but was generally impressed by Harambee Stars' performance in the campaign.
“Save for Alphonce Omija's goal from Boniface Muchiri's delivery and Bryne Omondi's reflexes, everything failed to click for Benni McCarthy's boys against Madagascar.
The Bafana Bafana legend also got it wrong when he substituted both Muchiri and Ryan Ogam.
Ogam's physical presence was missed immediately, with the Islanders defender breathing a sigh of relief, while Lewis Bandi had a bad day in office, similar to the lost midfield in the second half.
But, well, the boys outdid themselves; nobody expected them to go this far. We live to fight another day, time to build on these exploits,” Eshitemi posted on his Facebook account.
His counterpart, Keke Roy, also picked positives from Kenya's campaign.
“Building a formidable team that can conquer Africa takes time. Football is not instant coffee. Never is it an instant hot shower. It is not microwaveable.
Benni did his best with the boys. He struggled and gambled to even name a final squad. The far he took the team is a step. Kenya has never progressed past the group stage in a recent continental tournament. It's baby steps.
Most of those boys are also "junior players" with less than 10 national team caps, save for Masoud Juma and Aboud Omar,” said Keke.
The US-based journalist also took time to appreciate the 12th man for outdoing themselves.
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"To the fans, you were great. You made this the most talked about, attended and hyped CHAN tournament in history.
Even the 2016 edition in Rwanda was not close. Draped in Kenyan colours, you painted the stadiums in joy, vibe, happiness, banter and hospitality,” he concluded.
As for Anita Amondi, there were only positives to pick from CHAN.
“I am actually proud of the Harambee Stars. No one, including myself, expected us to reach this far. The whole team should feel proud of themselves.
We now need to build on this going into the qualifiers, AFCON and also ensure that we are back in the next CHAN edition,” she stated.
