Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy has praised his side’s grit and resilience after Kenya’s 1-0 victory over Morocco in the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) on Sunday.
Kenya, reduced to 10 men just before halftime following the dismissal of midfielder Chrispine Erambo, clung to their lead in a tense second half to secure a statement win against one of Africa’s top footballing nations.
Tusker FC forward Ryan Ogam scored the decisive goal in the 42nd minute — his first for the national team — finishing off a quick counterattack that caught Morocco’s defence off guard.
“I told the players the team that wants it more is the team that runs harder,” McCarthy said after the match. “Morocco had more of the ball, but in the end, the three points were ours. We deserved this win.”
The South African tactician credited Kenya’s home fans for pushing the players through the grueling second half.
“The fans in the stadium were incredible. Without their energy, I doubt we’d have survived — not with 11 men, let alone 10. This victory belongs to them,” he said.
McCarthy admitted Morocco’s quality demanded a tactical shift after the red card, forcing the Stars to sit deeper and defend in numbers.
“When you go down to 10 men, you can’t play the same type of football. The focus becomes defending, and we were so tactically organized that Morocco didn’t know what to do with the ball,” he explained.
Despite the triumph, McCarthy cautioned that Kenya still has work to do to match Africa’s elite sides.
“We had to be structured, disciplined and united — and while we did that today, we’re still building to reach the level of the top teams on the continent,” he said.
The result boosts Kenya’s hopes of progressing in the CHAN tournament, and with performances like this, belief in McCarthy’s tenure is growing.
