Harambee Stars to warm up for 2024 CHAN in Arusha
After naming a 30-man provisional squad for the delayed 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), Kenya has now shifted its focus to preparing for the 19-team tournament reserved for players plying their trade in their respective domestic leagues.
On Thursday, Football Kenya Federation announced that Harambee Stars will play in Cecafa Four Nations Cup alongside Uganda, Tanzania and South Sudan. The tournament will be held at the 30,000-seater Karatu Stadium (Samia Suluhu Hassan Stadium) in Arusha, Tanzania, from July 24 – 27.
“Harambee Stars will play in Cecafa Four Nations Cup in preparation for 2024 Chan. It is a chance to test our strength against the region’s best. Let’s go Stars,” a statement released by FKF yesterday read in part.
Kenya, coached by South African Benni McCarthy, will play Tanzania in Four Nations Cup on July 24 at Kiratu Stadium from 4pm. The match will be preceded by a meeting between Uganda and South Sudan at the same venue from 1pm.
Winners will meet in the final on July 27, while teams that lose their first matches will face off at the same venue before the final. Harambee Stars are expected back in Nairobi before their first Group ‘A’ match against the Democratic Republic of Congo on August 3 at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.
On Wednesday evening, coach McCarthy named a 30-man provisional squad that will compete in the delayed tournament.
The biennial competition reserved for players competing in their domestic leagues will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania from August 2 to 30.
Kakamega Homeboyz’s forward, Moses Shumah, who emerged top scorer in the 2024/2025 Football Kenya Federation Premier League with 17 goals, and his closest challenger Emmanuel Osoro of FC Talanta headline the team’s striking force.
Osoro scored 16 goals for FC Talanta in the local league. Also in coach McCarthy’s striking force are Tusker FC’s Ryan Ogam who scored 15 goals in the ended league. While Shumah and Osoro played for their teams nearly the whole season, Ogam has largely not featured in the league since February, when he was sidelined with an injury.
Coach McCarthy has also kept faith with Mohammed Bajaber, the forward who won the 2024/2025 league title with Kenya Police. Bajaber has become a favourite of Kenyan fans following his superb performances for Kenya in the team’s 3-3 against Gambia on March 20 in a 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifier match.
Bajaber scored nine goals in the just-concluded FKF-PL season. At 22, he is one of the exciting talents in the Football Kenya Federation Premier League.
In midfield, coach McCarthy has retained Gor Mahia duo of Austin Odhiambo and Alpha Onyango, and called up AFC Leopards wonderkid Kelly Madada. The only new members of the squad are Shabana’s Keith Imbali and Ulinzi Stars’ duo of Yakeen Muteheli and Staphod Odhiambo.
Kenya will host its Group ‘A’ matches at the newly refurbished Moi International Sports Center, Kasarani.
Group ‘A’ opponents
Harambee Stars will do battle in Group ‘A’ alongside 2018 and 2020 champions Morocco, Angola, 2009 and 2016 winners Democratic Republic of Congo, and Zambia.
Group ‘B’ of the tournament is composed of hosts Tanzania, Madagascar, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, and Central Africa Republic. The teams will be based at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
Group ‘C’ will feature co-hosts Uganda, Niger, Guinea, South Africa, and Algeria. The group will play its matches at Nelson Mandela Stadium in Kampala.
Group ‘D’ has of defending champions Senegal, Equatorial Guinea, Sudan, and Nigeria. The Group will play its matches in Zanzibar.
On Thursday, Gor Mahia defender Omija said the debate should not be on Kenya’s chances of progressing from their group, but on how to better prepare for the tournament, and win their matches.
“This is a competition we are hosting and everyone is already giving us the underdog tag because of how established and strong our opponents are but that should not be the case,” Omija, who has played professional football in Oman, observed.
Omija, 22, believes Kenya can perform well and win matches perceived to tbe toughest so long as the players prepare well and remain confident.
Fifa instructor and experienced coach Bob Oyugi says the inclusion of many young players in the team is good for the growth of the national team.
He believes a good performance in Chan will open bigger opportunities for the players in future.
“The squad is complemented with both senior and young players and most of the players included have shown on merit they deserve. What I’m sure of is that we can have a strong first 11 from this team because many of them are performers,” said Oyugi.
“This Chan is okay but the advisers of McCarthy should include Kakamega Homeboyz coach Francis Baraza and Nicholas Muyoti because they have performed well in the league, they are open and free. Reinhard Fabish had Bob Ogolla and Twahir Muhhidin as his assistant and their loyalty and cooperation made Kenya win even against big opponents,” added Oyugi.
Kenya Police forward Mohamed Bajaber was also optimistic that he and his teammates can deliver a good performance in the continental competition.
“Of course it will be great to play for the national team again in Chan but success depends on our input and good preparation. With home support, we have to ensure we go far in the competition,” Bajaber who netted nine goals in the just concluded season.
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