Nairobi. Kenya delivered a commanding 1-0 victory over two-time champions Morocco at Nairobi’s Moi International Sports Centre on Sunday, maintaining an unbeaten run at the TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) PAMOJA 2024 despite playing the entire second half with ten men.
Ryan Ogam’s decisive strike in the 42nd minute ignited the home crowd and proved enough for coach Benni McCarthy’s side to defy the odds, ending Morocco’s impressive 14-match unbeaten CHAN streak and asserting early dominance atop Group A.
After Ogam’s winner, Kenya faced a daunting challenge when Chrispine Erambo was shown a red card following a VAR review just before halftime, leaving the hosts a man down for the entire second half.
Despite this, Kenya’s disciplined defense and tactical resilience saw them hold firm against relentless Moroccan pressure.
This result, following earlier performances a 1-0 win over DR Congo and a 1-1 draw with Angola catapults Kenya to seven points from three matches, putting them within striking distance of a historic quarter-final berth on their tournament debut.
Morocco, who opened their campaign with a 2-0 win over Angola, looked ordinary against a combative and well-organized Kenyan side buoyed by a passionate home crowd.
With their unbeaten CHAN record snapped, Morocco’s hopes of advancing now hinge on recovering in their final two group games.
Hosts Roar Ahead Before Red Card Drama
Backed by fervent home support, Kenya started aggressively, unsettling Morocco’s normally measured buildup.
After several near chances from Ryan Ogam and Boniface Muchiri, the breakthrough came just before halftime.
A blocked effort from Ben Stanley Omondi found its way to Ogam, who unleashed a powerful left-footed shot past Moroccan goalkeeper El Mehdi Al Harrar, sending the stadium into ecstasy.
However, the celebrations were short-lived. Initially shown a yellow card for a foul on Anas El Mahraoui, Chrispine Erambo’s challenge was upgraded to a straight red by VAR in stoppage time, reducing Kenya to ten men and setting the stage for a tense second half.
Morocco Pile on the Pressure
Morocco responded fiercely after the break, unleashing wave after wave of attacks. Coach Tarik Sektioui injected fresh legs and pace with substitutions including Sabir Bougrine, Youssef Mehri, and Oussama Lamlaoui, as the Atlas Lions dominated possession and territorial advantage.
Several efforts, including headers from Mehri and Marouane Louadni, narrowly missed target, while Kenya’s goalkeeper Byrne Omondi produced a series of crucial saves most notably denying Louadni twice from close range and parrying a long-range strike from Mohamed Hrimat.
Despite controlling much of the second half, Morocco’s final balls were often off mark, with numerous shots sailing over the crossbar or wide under pressure from Kenya’s relentless and disciplined defensive line.
Kenya’s Defensive Steel
In response to the red card, McCarthy reshuffled his squad, bringing on additional defenders and instructing the team to sit deeper.
Centre-backs Sylvester Owino and Mike Kibwage were dominant in the air, while full-backs Siraj Mohammed and Lewis Bandi effectively blocked crosses and closed down Moroccan wingers.
Omondi’s inspired goalkeeping was pivotal, making key saves late in the game to preserve Kenya’s slender lead, including a crucial stop from Youssef Belammari and a last-ditch catch of a Lamlaoui header in stoppage time.
Substitutes Daniel Sakari, David Sakwa, and Alphonce Omija injected energy, disrupting Morocco’s rhythm and relieving pressure by tactically fouling in advanced areas.
History in the Making
Kenya’s victory stands as one of the biggest upsets in CHAN history, halting Morocco’s perfect start and placing the Taifa Stars on the brink of a historic quarter-final appearance.
A win against Zambia in their final group match would secure top spot; even a draw might suffice to progress.
For Morocco previously dominant against hosts Rwanda and Cameroon in earlier CHAN editions this result serves as a stark reminder of the tournament’s unpredictability. They must bounce back strongly against Angola to keep their campaign alive.
Kenya join DR Congo (2009) and Libya (2014) as only the third CHAN debutants to defeat former champions, a testament to McCarthy’s tactical acumen, discipline, and ruthless finishing.
