Ex-Harambee Stars Defender Explains How Benni McCarthy’s Charges Can Soar to CHAN 2024 Victory

Former Harambee Stars defender James Situma has hailed Kenya’s strong start at the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), describing the team’s performance as a turning point for local football and a moment of opportunity for players, fans, and the nation as a whole.

Kenya opened their campaign with a 1-0 win over DR Congo at Kasarani Stadium, courtesy of a goal by Austin Odhiambo to give them all three points and put them in a good position before facing Angola in their second group A clash on Thursday.

Speaking after Harambee Stars'  victory, the ex-international praised the squad’s determination and emphasised the broader impact of the tournament on Kenyan football.

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“First of all, I want to say that I’m very happy for the boys and congratulations to them,” he said. “From the beginning, when the draw came out, everyone said we were in the ‘Group of Death.’ But football in Africa has changed — it’s now a different ball game.”

He highlighted the importance of home advantage, saying that hosting the tournament gives Kenya a rare chance to shine.

“Being the host nation, we always say, ‘maybe the house has a spirit’ — meaning there’s an advantage when you're playing at home. This is a big opportunity for the boys to step up, show what they can do, and stamp their authority.”

Situma, who is now the Kenya Footballers’ Welfare Association (KEFWA) pointed to CHAN’s unique format, which features only players active in domestic leagues, as a crucial platform for Kenya’s talent.

“CHAN is one of the biggest platforms on the continent for local players. It gives them a real chance to shine, and possibly earn a move to professional, better-paying leagues.”

He also lauded President William Ruto’s gesture of rewarding the team financially, pledging one million shillings to all players for every win, calling it timely and morale-boosting.

“We’ve often said that footballers earn peanuts, yet they give everything for the country. His support is a strong message and motivation to the players to give their all.”

With Kenya eyeing short-, mid-, and long-term development goals in football, the defender sees CHAN as more than just a competition — it’s part of a national project.

“Our main aim is to win the tournament — that’s the dream all Kenyans are holding onto. But beyond CHAN, there’s the legacy. 

“This tournament gives our players exposure. We’ve also got business opportunities growing — hotels are getting bookings, local vendors are earning — and that’s good for the economy.”

He added that the tournament also serves as a dry run for Kenya’s joint bid to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

“It’s a test run to see if we’re truly ready to co-host AFCON. For me, CHAN is the best tournament for local players. Most of these boys may not make it to AFCON, where foreign-based stars dominate. But in CHAN, it’s their moment.”

Reflecting on the opening matches across the continent, the former defender expressed optimism about the state of African football.

“If you watched the first matches — Tanzania vs. Burkina Faso, Kenya vs. DR Congo, and even Egypt and Morocco against Angola — you could see the quality.”

“It shows that our local leagues across Africa have really improved. That’s a strong sign that more African players will soon be playing in top leagues around the world.”

As Kenya prepares for its next group match against Angola, the nation’s attention is locked on Kasarani. They will then face Morocco in their third game, before closing their group stage campaign with a clash against Zambia.