Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy has ignited fresh rivalry between Kenya and Tanzania with a bold swipe at Taifa Stars ahead of their CHAN Quarterfinal clash against Morocco.
Speaking after Kenya’s hard-fought 1-0 win over Zambia, McCarthy mocked Tanzania, warning them that facing the Atlas Lions would be no walk in the park.
His comments have fueled debate among fans, even as Harambee Stars prepare to face Madagascar. The stage is now set for a fiery East African showdown at CHAN 2024.
McCarthy’s Bold Swipe at Tanzania Before CHAN Quarterfinal
Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy has stoked East Africa’s fiercest rivalry with a daring swipe at Tanzania’s Taifa Stars ahead of their CHAN Quarterfinal clash against Morocco.
Speaking after Kenya’s gritty 1-0 victory over Zambia, McCarthy reminded Tanzania that their wish to face Morocco had come true. With a smirk, he warned that the Atlas Lions were no easy prey and suggested Taifa Stars would now face the same pain Harambee Stars endured in the so-called “group of death.”
“Morocco are going to Tanzania to play them in the quarterfinals. They will get their wish and experience what we experienced…the group of death. They will know what we went through in every game of this tournament so…good luck to Tanzania,” McCarthy quipped.
His words have already set social media ablaze, with Kenyan fans echoing his sentiments while Tanzanian supporters fired back, insisting Taifa Stars will silence critics on the pitch.
Harambee Stars Grit Their Way to the Quarters
Kenya booked their place in the last eight after edging Zambia 1-0 in a tense encounter at Kasarani Stadium. Despite Chipolopolo being eliminated earlier, they showed no signs of complacency and frustrated Harambee Stars with tight defending and fluid pressing.
It took a moment of magic to break the deadlock. Substitute Boniface Muchiri slipped a clever pass into the path of Ryan Ogam, who controlled and unleashed a powerful left-foot strike past Zambian keeper Charles Kalumba.
The 75th-minute goal sent fans into wild celebrations, with news from Nyayo Stadium confirming Morocco’s 3-1 victory over DR Congo. Kenya’s slim win meant they topped Group A and secured a home-soil quarterfinal against Madagascar.
McCarthy Content With Kenyan Progress
In his post-match remarks, McCarthy admitted Zambia had given his men a tough fight but praised his squad’s resilience.
“Zambia frustrated us a lot…they are a very good team with players who can interchange positions. Fortunately, we had that one pass that brought Ryan into the game and he was able to score. I felt like we could have scored a bit more but then again we won and we get to play our quarterfinal match on home soil, which was the most important,” he said.
The South African tactician, who took charge of Harambee Stars earlier this year, stressed that team unity had been key to their strong campaign.
“I don’t know how it used to be with Kenya before I took charge but what I know is that we have developed a level of trust within the team. I trust the players and they trust me to put out a team that can go out there and fight for each other. This is what we want to continue to do and hopefully get to where we want to be,” McCarthy explained.
East African Rivalry Intensifies Ahead of CHAN Quarterfinal
Kenya and Tanzania may not clash in this round, but their rivalry is dominating headlines. Both teams have impressed as co-hosts, creating a buzz that has electrified fans across the region.
Tanzania’s Taifa Stars have their hands full with Morocco, who looked dominant in Group A. McCarthy’s cheeky jab only added fire to an already tense build-up, setting the stage for a high-stakes battle.
For Harambee Stars, focus now shifts to their quarterfinal against Madagascar at Kasarani on Friday, where McCarthy’s men will look to extend their dream run. Yet, the South African coach’s words have ensured all eyes will also be on Tanzania to see if they crumble under the weight of Morocco—or rise to prove him wrong.
