Home SPORTS Kenya vs Morocco: Harambee Stars Secure 1-0 Win in CHAN 2025

Kenya vs Morocco: Harambee Stars Secure 1-0 Win in CHAN 2025

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Kenya's Harambee Stars pull off a stunning 1-0 victory over Morocco in the African Nations Championship. Find out how the match unfolded.


Kenya's encounter with Morocco also marked a milestone, as the North Africans faced their 18th different...



Kenya's Harambee Stars pulled off a stunning 1-0 victory over two-time African Nations Championship winners Morocco, despite being reduced to 10 men in the first half. The win puts Kenya on the brink of qualifying for the knockout stages, with seven points from three matches. Ryan Ogam scored the decisive goal in the 40th minute with a clinical finish that left the Moroccan goalkeeper with no chance of making a save.


The match was marked by chaotic scenes outside the stadium, with thousands of impatient fans storming through gates and scaling perimeter fences after long queues and ticket frustrations. Despite Morocco's dominance in possession and relentless pressure, the 10-man Harambee Stars showed remarkable composure and discipline, with goalkeeper Byrne Omondi making several key saves. Chrispine Erambo's red card just before halftime didn't deter the team, and they defended resolutely to secure the win.


Kenya's Qualification Chances

  • A win would guarantee Kenya's spot in the quarterfinals with one game to spare.
  • A draw would leave Kenya in control of their destiny, but they'd have to wait until the final day for another chance at qualification.
  • Kenya's potential opponents in the quarterfinals include Tanzania, who became the first team to seal their spot in the knockout stages after beating Madagascar 2-1.




The Harambee Stars' victory parade and celebrations will likely be a testament to the team's grit and determination, which earned them a well-deserved win over a decorated Moroccan side. With this win, Kenya has now bagged Sh2.5 million from President William Ruto's promise of Sh1 million for every win and half the amount for every draw.


Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy shook things up by benching several key players, including captain Aboud Omar, right-back Daniel Sakari, defender Alphonce Omija, and midfielders Austin Odhiambo and Alpha Onyango, for the match against Morocco. Notably, Austin Odhiambo had previously scored crucial goals against DR Congo and Angola, while Alpha Onyango had recently found his scoring touch with three goals in five matches. Despite these omissions, the Harambee Stars managed to secure a 1-0 win over Morocco, thanks to Ryan Ogam's decisive goal in the 45th minute. The team's ability to win with a depleted squad showcases their depth and resilience.


The South African legend coach implemented tactical reshuffles and introduced fresh legs to the lineup. Siraj Mohammed was brought in at right-back, while Mike Kibwage returned as captain to partner Sylvester Owino in central defense. Lewis Bandi also made a start, and Chrispine Erambo was moved to midfield.


In the attacking lineup, Ben Stanley Omondi took on the playmaker role, and Ryan Ogam replaced Austin Odhiambo, bringing a more direct attacking threat to the Harambee Stars. This tactical adjustment seemed to pay off, as Ogam scored the winning goal in the 45th minute, securing a 1-0 victory over Morocco in the CHAN match.


Close Call for Kenya

Kenya had a close call in the 10th minute when Mike Kibwage brought down Morocco's Anas El Mahraoui outside the 18-yard box. Imad Riahi took the resulting free-kick and delivered a precise cross that found Khalid Aït Ouarkhane unmarked at the far post. Fortunately for Kenya, the Moroccan defender's header sailed wide, sparing the Harambee Stars' goal.


Kenya had a close call when Khalid Aït Ouarkhane's powerful header hit the back of goalkeeper Bryne Omondi and the post. Fortunately, Mike Kibwage cleared the danger, and Ayoub Mouloua's follow-up attempt was thwarted.


Kenya created their first scoring opportunity in the 15th minute. A corner kick delivered by Stanley Omondi found Boniface Muchiri at the far post. However, Muchiri was flagged offside before he could strike the ball, and Anas Bach, who had gone down after a challenge, received medical attention.


Kenya's opportunity arose after Morocco was forced to make an early substitution due to an injury to Mouloua, who was replaced by Youness El Kaabi. Despite this setback, Morocco continued to press forward.


In the 30th minute, Morocco's Bouchaib Arrassi became the first player to receive a yellow card for a clumsy foul on Ryan Ogam. Kenya seized the chance to create a scoring opportunity from the resulting free kick. Suleiman Okwaro unleashed a powerful shot from outside the box, but it deflected off a Moroccan player, resulting in a corner kick that ultimately proved fruitless. Just moments before halftime, Ryan Ogam scored for Kenya with a goal in the 42nd minute, and Chrispine Erambo was given a red card in added time. The Kenyan team held strong despite being reduced to 10 men and managed to maintain their 1-0 lead until the final whistle.




Kenya Takes the Lead

Kenya took the lead against the run of play when Ryan Ogam scored a crucial goal. The play started with Stanley Omondi's shot being blocked by Marouane Louadni, but the rebound fell to Ogam. Despite being surrounded by six Moroccan players, Ogam managed to sneak in a left-footed effort past goalkeeper El Mehdi Al Harrar, much to the delight of the large crowd.


Just two minutes after Ryan Ogam's goal gave Kenya the lead, disaster struck as Chrispine Erambo became the second player to be sent off in consecutive CHAN matches for Kenya. Erambo, known for his physicality, was given the red card after a high boot tackle on Morocco's El Mahraoui, leaving Kenya to defend their 1-0 lead with 10 men for the rest of the match. As Erambo walked off the pitch looking dejected, Burkina Faso referee Vincent Kabore blew the whistle for halftime, with Kenya still in the lead despite being a man down.


Following Chrispine Erambo's red card, coach Benni McCarthy made a tactical substitution at the start of the second half, bringing in Alpha Onyango for Edwin Omondi to shore up the defense. However, McCarthy's frustration was evident as he was immediately shown a yellow card by referee Vincent Kabore.


In the 56th minute, Boniface Muchiri created a scoring opportunity on the right wing, dribbling past Moroccan defenders before going down in the box under a challenge from Marouane Louadni. The referee initially awarded a penalty, but after a VAR review, the decision was overturned, and Kenya was awarded a free kick from outside the box instead.


Morocco's match against Kenya marked their third encounter with a tournament host in the African Nations Championship. Previously, they thrashed Rwanda 4-1 in the 2016 edition and Cameroon 4-0 in the 2020 semi-finals, showcasing their dominance over host nations.


Kenya's encounter with Morocco also marked a milestone, as the North Africans faced their 18th different team in the tournament's history. Specifically, Kenya became the fourth East African team to lock horns with Morocco at CHAN, following in the footsteps of other regional teams that have competed against them.



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