Kenya lost on penalties 3-4 to Madagascar in the quarter finals of CHAN 2024 yesterday after a 1-1 draw in 90 minutes and extra-time. Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani was at 80% capacity as directed by CAF but the atmosphere was as pregnant as ever with expectation. In the end it was heartbreak for the Kenyan fans in the most cruel of ways in football, a penalty shootout. Boniface Muchiri had delivered an inch perfect free kick for Alphonce Omija to give Kenya the lead shortly after half time. Ryan Ogam then had a goal disallowed under unclear circumstances. But a hand ball in his own box by Lewis Bandi gave Madagascar the chance to equalize from the spot in the 69th minute. Fenohisana Gilles Razafimaro made no mistake with his penalty. Penalty Heartbreak   As fans trudged out of the stadium in conversation after the loss, the most common words you could hear were ‘ kwani Austin alifanyia nini coach?’ and ‘hizo subs za Benni zimetucost.’ Benni McCarthy has had a brillian...

We’re finally here. After two postponements, numerous site visits by CHAN officials and regular media briefings that often felt like PR stunts, the 2024 African Nations Championships (CHAN) kick off tonight in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Almost a year later than initially scheduled, September 2024. The tournament will be staged across five venues in four cities spread across three co-hosting nations: Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. The Harambee Stars make their debut in the biennial tournament tomorrow against two-time champions, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It’s a tough draw that includes fellow record-winners Morocco, as well as Angola and Zambia. It’s sink or swim for the national team. The expectations are high in Nairobi. It’s arguably the biggest football competition ever held on Kenyan soil, only rivalled by the Safari Rally, the 1993 FIBA Africa Championship, and the 2017 IAAF World Under-18 Championships in terms of global scale. With high-profile events comes pre...