CHAN 2024: How far can the Harambee Stars go in the tournament?

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 pressure to perform, so how far can the Harambee Stars go in this tournament?

League Quality

First, we need to understand the competition and the quality of teams in the tournament. CHAN is a biennial tournament that features players who ply their trade locally. There’s no Michael Olunga, no Yoane Wissa or an Achraf Hakimi. What you get are the best players playing for their local clubs at home.

Thus, the strength of a league can be a good measure of how a team ranks in CHAN. Three out of the five winners of the tournament have their leagues among the top 10 most valuable leagues on the continent, according to transfermarkt.com. Two-time winners Morocco’s Botola Pro Inwi ranks as the third most valuable league in Africa (€115.02m), with 15.9% foreigners in their league. Tunisia’s League 1 pro (5^th) and the Libyan Premier League (6^th) are other past winners of the tournament who rank among the top 10, as shown below.

Despite having the most valuable leagues on the continent, Egypt and South Africa have never won CHAN. Outsiders like the defending champions Senegal and the DRC have upset the apple cart and gone all the way. Surprisingly, Uganda has the most valuable local league in East Africa, valued at €850k. They also boast of six CHAN appearances in their history, behind only the DRC.

In theory, teams with more valuable leagues should also have a higher level of competition, increasing the quality of players in the national team. It is also a chance for teams such as the Harambee Stars to cause a shock. Much has been made about the quality of the Kenyan Premier League, especially by former Stars coach Engin Firat. The Turk often threw jibes at the local league, claiming that the league could not produce quality players and urged emerging talents to pursue top leagues abroad. This is the time to prove him wrong.

Squad and tactics

Benni McCarthy named his 24-man squad for the tournament, albeit after a few hiccups along the way. The most significant is the withdrawal of Mohammed Bajaber from the squad. The winger was supposed to be the poster boy for the Stars, but he left the team amid speculation over his impending move to Tanzanian giants, Simba.

The South African tactician has brought an enthusiasm and attack-minded approach to his tactical setup. His willingness to adopt the old-school two-striker formation in a bid to get his side scoring goals has been apparent in his four games in charge. The availability of Masoud Juma for the tournament is a massive boost for McCarthy.

Kenya has long struggled to find a successor to Michael Olunga. This tournament provides a chance for someone to push Olunga for the number 9 jersey as AFCON 2027 approaches. FKF Kenyan Premier League top scorer Ryan Ogam will be one to watch as he fights for that starting berth.

Local football fans will point to Austin Odhiambo as the key player for the Harambee Stars. The creative midfielder is widely regarded as the most talented player in the league, and that comes with a certain level of expectations. Benni McCarthy has to find a way to get the best out of him if we are to stand any chance of progressing from the group phase.

Kenya will likely adopt a 4-2-3-1 formation, but McCarthy has shown a preference for the 4-4-2 when chasing a game. Expect him to play with two strikers on the pitch if Kenya is trailing. In possession, one of the midfielders will drop in between the two centre-backs with both full-backs pushing high and wide. This piece by Josh Ngatia breaks down the tactical setup under the South African so far.

Goalkeepers: Faruk Shikhalo, Byrne Omondi, Sebastian Wekesa.

Defenders Siraj Mohammed, Manzur Suleiman, Abud Omar, Alphonce Omija, Sylvester Owino, Mike Kibwage, Daniel Sakari, Lewis Bandi, Kevin Okumu. 

Midfielders Chrispine Erambo, Brian Michira, Alpha Onyango, Austin Odhiambo, Ben Stanley, Marvin Nabwire. 

Fowards Edward Omondi, Boniface Muchiri, David Sakwa, Ryan Ogam, Masoud Juma, Austin Odongo, Felix Oluoch. 

Second round chances

Kenya finds itself in the group of death in Group A. Two-time CHAN winners, DRC and Morocco, are overwhelming favourites to progress from the group. Angola and Zambia can cause an upset on their day.

Harambee Stars need to top the group or finish second to qualify for the quarter-finals. A tough assignment for the national team, but with the massive ticket sales reported, the home crowd will be essential to the team’s performance. The players have also been promised a hefty financial package for every win or draw by the president as reported.https://x.com/TeyaKevin/status/1951539123724153171

 

CHAN is a unique opportunity for Kenyan football fans and players to experience a high-level continental tournament. It serves as preparation for AFCON in 2027 for the hosting nations. But for the local players, this is a chance to show that local football in Kenya can compete with the rest of Africa. Can Benni McCarthy conjure up a miracle on home soil?

 

Tickets for the tournament are available here: https://chan.mookh.com/