Harambee Stars Goalkeeper Shikhalo Breaks Silence: Why He Broke Down After ‘Painful’ CHAN Exit

Former Kenya international and veteran goalkeeper Farouk Shikhalo has opened up about the raw emotions that engulfed him after Kenya was eliminated from CHAN 2024 by Madagascar in a heartbreaking penalty shootout. 

The defeat exposed unmet expectations, officiating grievances, and frustrations about how Kenyan squads are treated off the pitch.

Shikhalo told Tiki Taka show of how the emotional weight of that night overwhelmed him:

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“I cried because I believe we got eliminated by a weaker opponent than those teams we had ousted before. I felt we deserved better.”

He argued that complacency seeped into the team after scoring their first goal, and that some critical refereeing decisions compounded the pain. He referenced what he termed a “clear goal by Ogam” which was never reviewed. Shikhalo says the referee had informed them VAR was not working, a fact that led to disallowed goals and unreviewed penalties.

“Most people do not understand that the referee had already informed us that VAR was not working — that is why it was never reviewed, and neither was the penalty.”

Indeed, Kenya’s quarter-final exit came after a 1-1 draw and a tense penalty shootout, where Madagascar won 4–3.

During the same interview, Shikhalo shed light on Kenya’s controversial withdrawal from the CECAFA Four Nations Tournament earlier in July. 

He defended the decision, pointing to substandard conditions, health risks, and lack of adequate preparations, as they did during the Mapinduzi Cup tournament earlier that year in Zanzibar

“We had slept on mattresses on the floors. We persevered during the Mapinduzi Cup. A lot of people do not know this,” Shikhalo said.

The former Kakamega Homeboyz man heaped praise on Benni McCarthy for being the manager that enabled them to see conditioning and hospitality as key to preparations for a major tournament, which is why he pushed for their withdrawal.

“The Wi-Fi was inefficient, and so was the food … We did not risk suffering malaria or getting sick and then risk not playing at CHAN. It was teamwork that pulled us through.”

Shikhalo implied that such decisions are often misjudged by critics unaware of deeper behind-the-scenes challenges that local players face.

Shikhalo’s reflections paint a vivid picture of a national team striving for both competitive excellence and dignity. His emotional breakdown following the loss was not just grief but an expression of pent-up disappointment after what he believed was a deserved shot at glory.

With CHAN 2024 now behind them, Kenya must harness both pain and lessons as it rebuilds toward future continental quests.