In a display of immense character and resilience, a ten-man Kenya fought to a 1-1 draw against Angola in a dramatic Group A clash at the TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) PAMOJA 2024.
Playing in front of their home fans at the Moi International Sports Centre, the Harambee Stars were forced to play with a man down for over 70 minutes but held on to remain unbeaten.
Angola, still smarting from their opening loss to Morocco, started brightly and took the lead in the 7th minute through Jó Paciência.
However, Kenya responded swiftly when a VAR check led to a penalty, which Austin Odhiambo converted in the 12th minute. This was Odhiambo’s second goal of the tournament, solidifying his status as Kenya’s breakout star.
The match took a dramatic turn in the 21st minute when Kenyan midfielder Marvin Nabwire was sent off after a VAR review upgraded his yellow card to a red.
From that point on, it was a test of Kenya’s resolve, with coach Benni McCarthy’s side shifting to a defensive game plan.
The Harambee Stars’ defense, combined with a series of heroic saves from goalkeeper Byrne Omondi, kept the Angolans at bay.
Despite being a man down, Kenya still created a few chances, with substitutes coming close to scoring a late winner.
The drama reached its peak in stoppage time when Angola thought they had snatched a victory, but a VAR check ruled out the goal for offside.
The final whistle was met with a mix of relief and celebration from the Kenyan team and their fans, who appreciated the team’s gritty performance.
The draw puts Kenya at the top of Group A with four points. Angola, with just one point, must now win their final group match against DR Congo to have any hope of progressing, while Kenya can book a historic quarter-final spot with a positive result against Morocco in their final group game.
By Samson Jura
