CHAN 2024: Who Are Harambee Stars' Likely Quarter-Final Opponents?

Harambee Stars can now look forward to playing the quarter-final of the 2024 African Nations Championships (CHAN 2024) but the question is now which team they will face.

Kenya sealed their place in the last eight with a match to spare when DR Congo beat Angola 2-0 on Thursday, meaning they are guaranteed at least second place in Group A, owing to their superior head-to-head record against the Congolese and Morocco, who are both on six points and play each other on Sunday.

Benni McCarthy’s men were not playing but still had massive interest in the match and after confirmation of their place in the quarter-final, attention shifts to their opponents in the last eight.

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As per the draw, the team that finishes top in Group A will take on runners-ups on Group B in Nairobi while second placed finishers in Group A will face the top team in Group B in Dar es Salaam.

As per the current results, Tanzania are assured top spot in Group B after winning three straight matches with neither Mauritania nor Madagascar able to catch them, even if they lose their final group stage match against Central African Republic on Saturday.

That therefore means Harambee Stars can face the Taifa Stars at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium if they fail to beat Zambia while either DR Congo or Morocco win.

That is a nightmare scenario that most Kenyan fans are keen to avoid as McCarthy’s men could find themselves having to do it the hard way on ‘enemy territory.’

To avoid this, Kenya must beat Zambia on Sunday as that will guarantee them top spot in Group A and the take on the second-placed team in Group B. As it stands, Mauritania are in pole position to seal second place but it can change on Saturday.

Mauritania have already played all their four matches and managed seven points but Madagascar can draw level with a win against Burkina Faso on Saturday.

Given both teams played out a 0-0 draw in their last meeting, head-to-head record will not suffice if Madagascar win and it could be down to goals scored, meaning Madagascar, who have a goal difference of +1, same as Mauritania, can edge it if they win by 1-0 or more.

Kenya can therefore face either Mauritania or Madagascar in Nairobi if they top their group and this is seen as a more favourable draw by Harambee Stars fans.