For the first time in Harambee Stars’ history, spurred by passionate crowds and fat win bonuses from President William Ruto, the Kenyan national team featured in the knockout stages of a major Confederation of African Football (CAF) tournament. Their six previous appearances at the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) had ended in group stage exits.
However, against the odds, Harambee Stars topped Group ‘A’ – dubbed the ‘Group of Death’ – before their journey ended in the quarterfinals following a 4-3 penalty shootout loss to eventual finalists Madagascar. That quarterfinal tie had ended in a 1-1 draw after regulation and extra time.
They stunned two-time Chan champions, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), 1-0 in their opening match before drawing 1-1 with 2011 runners-up Angola despite playing with 10 men for more than 70 minutes.
Another gladiatorial performance followed against Morocco, the eventual champions and CAF African Nations Championship (Chan) record winners with three titles. Harambee Stars ended the North Africans’ 14-match unbeaten run in the competition with a 1-0 win, which was secured while playing with 10 men for more than 45 minutes.
"Teenager Manzur Okwaro, then a KCB FC player, became the first footballer to represent Kenya in major tournaments."
Another 1-0 win against Zambia, who finished third at the Chan 2009, confirmed Harambee Stars’ lead in Group A.
Even though that run had ended in a disappointment, the tournament raised a legion of local players who are still celebrated.
Goalkeeper Byrne Omondi was the only player in the tournament to receive a man-of-the-match award while playing against Morocco. He also kept a clean sheet against the DRC and saved nine of the 11 shots he faced against Angola and Madagascar. Second-choice goalkeeper Faruk Shikhalo kept a clean sheet when he stood in for Omondi against Zambia.
Former Gor Mahia defender Alphonse Omija, who joined Tunisia’s Etoile du Sahel after Chan 2024, was the Harambee Stars number five who scored their fifth goal of the tournament in the 1-1 draw against Madagascar.
Gor Mahia midfielder Austin Odhiambo scored two goals–Stars’ winning goal in the 1-0 defeat of two-time Chan champions DRC and equaliser in the 1-1 draw against Angola. He later made a successful appeal to President Ruto to stop the alleged grabbing of Baba Dogo Grounds by a private company.
Teenager Manzur Okwaro, then a KCB FC player, became the first footballer to represent Kenya in major tournaments.
In April, he featured for the Emerging Stars at the 2025 African Cup of Nations Under-20 championships in Egypt. He went to Chan 2024 as a left back, but his versatility turned him into Benni McCarthy’s joker card and a career as a defensive midfielder was born.
Ulinzi Stars winger Boniface Muchiri, also a Kenya Defence Forces soldier, impressed with his work rate, zigzagging dribbles, and an angel’s foot that delivered two assists.
Former Tusker FC striker Ryan Ogam also scored two of Kenya’s five goals at the Chan 2024.
His strikes accounted for Harambee Stars’ victories over Morocco and Zambia.
His scoring run for the national team continued in September and October, with goals in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against The Gambia, Seychelles, and Burundi.
His goal in the 1-0 win against Burundi was historic; it brought Harambee Stars’ first away win in a FIFA World Cup qualifier against a team from mainland Africa since a 4-2 victory over Burkina Faso in 1997.
–Michael Kirwa