Harambee Stars have overwhelmed DR Congo 1-0 in an exhilarating match on the Kasarani Stadium of their opening Group A match of the CHAN 2024.
DRC had not received any of their final 4 matches in African tournaments, whereas Kenya shared an identical destiny, having misplaced all earlier 3 matches in opposition to African opponents on the continental platform.
Shaky begin for Kenya
Both groups got here into the match believing a win over the opposite can be the right begin of the marketing campaign, nicely justified by the depth from the blow of the whistle.
DRC began off stronger, forcing Harambee Stars to commit 2 critical defensive errors within the first 4 minutes because of their excessive urgent.
In the fifth minute, Kenya had been lucky sufficient to outlive the scare of trailing behind earlier within the match after the VAR dominated out DRC’s opening purpose after it was reviewed {that a} foul was dedicated on Kenya’s skipper Aboud Omar.
This served as a wakeup name for Kenya as they instantly acquired into the sport with 2 photographs over the bar within the subsequent 5 minutes, with DRC committing a number of fouls as they discovered it laborious to maintain up with Kenya’s pacy wingers within the assault line.
The subsequent jiffy noticed Kenya play extra within the midfield, a man-to-man marking tactic employed by the leopards of Congo to disrupt the fast passes by Kenya’s trio of Austin Odhiambo, Sakwa and Masoud Omar.
Kenya had been wasteful with the possibilities they created within the first 45 minutes, which prompted some anger among the many crowded followers who had been eagerly ready for what can be Kenya’s first ever purpose within the African Nations Championship (CHAN).
With the primary half almost over and 4 minutes of added time on the massive display, the noise within the stadium was fairly considerably low with each units of followers clearly ready for the half-time whistle so they might go for the 15-minute break and are available again re-energised as the sport turned uneventful.
Goal for Kenya
In the second minute of extra time within the first half, Harambee Stars was awarded for its stunning movement of passes from defence to offence, after a counterattack was began by Kenya’s captain Aboud because of a good deal with to disclaim DRC a goalscoring alternative.
Austin Odhiambo acquired the ball from the left wing in a formidable pacy assault, leaving him with only a defender to beat, which he confidently did to depart the DRC defender on the ground, earlier than utilizing his weak foot to complete off the transfer sending the keeper the flawed approach.
The stadium was stuffed with roar as celebrations begun all the way in which to the start of the second half, with all to play for once more and DRC making two modifications in the course of the half time break.
The second half began virtually much like the primary half, with DR Congo attacking however missing the experience to transform the possibilities they had been struggling to create with the modified lineup in addition to the Harambee defence line that was now ever laid again and no defender was allowed to go excessive up the pitch.
The subsequent 20 minutes had been loaded with loads of fouls largely by DRC and it was evident that they needed to change their taking part in techniques, if not the gamers within the pitch.
The DRC coach acted promptly, making two extra consecutive modifications whereas Harambee waited until the seventieth minute to make their first double change.
The remainder of the sport noticed close to misses, poor passing accuracy from DRC and the sport having to be stopped severally as a consequence of fouls by each units of gamers.
The recreation marked the primary win for Kenya in CHAN match and an enormous motivation for the younger Kenyans who gave their all to additionally rating Keny’s first purpose within the match.
Kenya faces Angola subsequent of their second match on the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani on August 7, 2025, the place they hope to proceed their spectacular begin to the match.
