Austin Odhiambo Admits Harambee Stars Were Lucky in CHAN 2024 Win Over DR Congo

Harambee Stars midfielder Austin Odhiambo has warned his teammates against complacency despite their 1-0 win over DR Congo in their opening 2024 African Nations Championships (CHAN) clash at Kasarani Stadium on Sunday.

The Gor Mahia playmaker scored the decisive goal just before half time, earning Kenya three crucial points in Group A.

But speaking to the media after the match, Odhiambo admitted the team still has significant room for improvement.

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“I am happy we won today and it has given us a lot of morale because the first game was so important,” Odhiambo said. 

“But they were the better team today — we just used our chance. Next time, we need to be more cautious at the back and control the game better.”

Odhiambo credited coach Benni McCarthy for encouraging the team to stay compact, which helped nullify DR Congo’s attacking threats. Still, he acknowledged Kenya’s struggles in possession and emphasized the need to improve ahead of Thursday’s fixture against Angola.

“We need to improve a lot, especially how to use the ball more because we are losing it a lot,” he noted. “We have a long way to go but we are looking forward to the game on Thursday.”

The 2023/ 2024 FKF Premier League MVP also spoke about the responsibility he feels to drive the team forward creatively.

“I knew we had to work as a team. I was the one who could create chances, and I had to stay switched on. If I wasn’t focused, I wouldn’t have been able to score for the team.”

Odhiambo also had words of appreciation for the home supporters, whose energy he believes helped the team dig deep.

“It is a huge privilege to have such support. To the fans — they were the best today. We hope they keep turning up.”

With three points already in the bag, Kenya will look to build momentum in their next CHAN 2024 clash against Angola on Thursday, but Odhiambo’s message is clear: the hard work has only just begun.