CHAN 2024: 5 Things Learnt From Harambee Stars' Famous Victory Over Morocco at Kasarani

In a match that will linger in the hearts of football fans across the nation, Kenya's Harambee Stars stunned two-time CHAN champions Morocco with a gritty 1-0 victory at Kasarani Stadium on August 10, 2025.

yan Ogam’s precisely placed strike just before halftime proved decisive, setting the stage for a masterclass in resilience as the hosts held firm despite being down to 10 men for the entire second half

This landmark win not only keeps Kenya unbeaten in the group but also sends them into the knockout stages with belief and momentum.

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Every stakeholder involved in supporting the Harambee Stars had their hearts in their mouths, considering just a few days earlier against Angola, they had to play nearly 70 minutes with ten men after Marvine Nabwire was the one sent off for a professional last-man foul.

However, it looks like playing with 10 men ironically stabilises the side, because they are forced to sit deep in low banks and force the opposition outside, preventing them from creating any clear-cut chances.

Against Angola, the side saw out the first half in a 4-4-1 low block off the ball before switching to a 5-3-1 formation, and against Morocco, McCarthy deployed the same tactic, and in the end, it actually worked for them.

According to Flashscore, Morocco registered an xG rating of 1.01 throughout, while Angola registered a higher one of 1.60, although a chunk of it came before the red card. Morocco never created a single big chance.

Then again, as Benni McCarthy admitted afterwards, he is a proud student of José Mourinho.

If there is a team that has really felt the impact of being helped by the fanbase, it is certainly Kenya.

Harambee Stars have played all their group games in front of a packed Kasarani stadium, and the atmosphere they generated there was absolutely electric.

Their noise has not only had a hand in galvanising the players on the pitch, but also helped influence refereeing decisions.

From the Mexican waves, all the way to the claps and chants of Ole! Ole! Harambee Stars have certainly been energised.

Benni McCarthy made the bold decision to drop Daniel Sakari and Abud Omar for Lewis Bandi and Mohammed Siraj respectively, and it was a decision that proved a masterstroke.

Both players, who are actually midfielders, brought a sense of calm in possession and allowed the side to have more control, as seen in their heatmaps.

Although Sakari and Omar have done well defensively for the side, Siraj and Bandi made the side have more authority in possession.

While McCarthy might eventually trust their defensive acumen more as the tournament progresses, you have to take your hats off to him.

Before the game, McCarthy had often insisted his plan was to possibly make changes given the limited recovery time from the game on Thursday.

The former Manchester United assistant made six changes to his starting line-up, bringing in Siraj, Bandi, Mike Kibwage, Chris Erambo, Ben Stanley Omondi and Ryan Ogam into the team. The changes brought energy and freshness to the team, and it was also sensible considering Morocco had already experienced six rest days from their opener on Thursday.

Given the high-stakes nature of the game, a lot of Kenyans flooded Kasarani Stadium. The attendance was so massive, security were unable to control their entry, breaking two gates to force their way through.

Even in the terraces, many fans managed to force their way in, and in the end, the 48,000-seater stadium packed to over 60,000 people.

Fortunately enough, no person ended up injured or dead, but it will come at a cost of bigger sanctions for Football Kenya Federation, who have already been forced to fork out 2.5 million shillings for similar incidents during Harambee Stars’ opening game against DR Congo at the same venue a week earlier.

When the dust settled at Kasarani, the scoreline told only part of the story. This was a win carved out of grit, unity, and belief. It was a masterclass in adaptability from Benni McCarthy and a testament to the unyielding spirit of the Harambee Stars.