Harambee Stars prove steel, character despite early nerves

After 98 minutes of intense football, some could barely walk. Bodies had been all over the park, and the least they could do was join hands and applaud the 46,520 royals that had just wheeled them on in a belter of a game.

Joining hands was all they had done after all, having to dig their heels into perceived impossibilities before delivering a performance that will live long in the memories.

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And no, this hoopla was not worth three points. Just one, but quite a statement from a team many would have written off given the circumstances.

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Though playing at home, Benni McCarthy's men best fit the underdog tag.

If in doubt, a listen to the preamble of Thursday evening's contest could have given you a rough picture.

"Angola are making their fifth appearance in CHAN; they finished fourth in their debut and recently won the COSAFA Championships before landing in Kenya.”

When the cameras panned on Pedro Gonçalves?

“And here is the 49-year-old, who has managed the national team’s U15, U17, and U20 teams up to the senior level. Last year at the AFCON, he took them to the quarter finals.”

Even a peep at the FIFA rankings had the Palancas Negras almost a goal up before the grand occasion got underway.

It could well be that those figures were running in the back of the Kenyan players after such a nervy start, which had them on the back foot after just six minutes.

Previous iterations—under unaccomplished managers—would definitely have crumbled, but so good was McCarthy’s pre-game script, that all it took in response was a wonderful cross ball from Sylvester Owino to open up the Angolan defence, initially described as one that pushes high.

A cool touch from Edward Omondi set up the star of the show, Austine Odiambo, to rightfully buy a foul before kissing the ball and sending the accomplished Adilson Cipriano in the opposite direction.

Two, maybe three, strikes of genius offered a route back, but, of huge concern will have been how much-needed experience seemed to have departed the hosts in that topsy-turvy half.

Adding to Aboud Omar's slumber in the buildup to the first goal, Bryne Omondi froze while trying to do his usual stuff - building up play from behind - before forcing Marvin Nabwire to take one for the team.

Why such events took place at that stage will be pondered upon, but having their backs against the wall worked as a blessing in disguise.

The rest of the game had everything.

Cue in clever game management, McCarthy’s change in tact, missed breakaways, deafening bearpit, VAR drama, blocks and more blocks.

Several moments in between were interesting to watch.

At a time Kenya needed to wrap their heads around Nabwire's sending off, keeper Omondi went down on his own, with shouts of "kaa chini" (sit down) being picked on the mics.

That was not the only time he went down, and was the subject of Pedro's lamentations post-game.

There was then the moment Owino did an impersonation of Alphonce Omija to clear off the line, and the near worst of all: Ben Stanley failing to find an open Ryan Ogam to win it all.

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It was that sequence that resulted in the late Angola goal, when the stadium, for the first time all evening, went mum.

Fortunately, though, VAR intervened, but only after three minutes of heartbreak.

The tireless Manzur Okwaro was helpless on the turf, keeper Omondi had taken big gulps of water after such a brave effort, and Stanley wished the ground would open up and save him from shame.

At the end of it all, the VAR monitor got some kisses, but the celebrations and hugs post-match gave a glimpse of how much the Kenyan players wanted to see the game out.

They eventually did, and passed a big test. What character.

PLAYER RATINGS: Odhiambo shines again as ten-men Harambee Stars hold Angola