EXCLUSIVE: Onsika Explains the Pressure Facing Harambee Stars at the 2024 CHAN

Former Kenyan international Elijah Onsika has shared insights into the pressures that the national team, Harambee Stars, will face during the 2024 Africa Nations Championships (CHAN). This tournament will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania starting in August.

Set for its eighth edition, this biennial football championship, organised by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), showcases national teams comprised exclusively of players from local leagues. The competition is scheduled to kick off on August 2nd and conclude on August 30th.

On Thursday, June 19th, CAF announced the venues for the opening ceremony, first match, as well as the third-place play-off and final. The Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, will host the opening match, while Uganda’s Nelson Mandela Stadium will feature the third and fourth fixtures. The grand finale will take place at Kenya’s Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi on August 30th, 2025.

Additionally, CAF confirmed that Zanzibar has been added to the list of tournament host locations, with the New Amaan Stadium set to host Group D matches. This stadium recently hosted an exciting CAF Confederation Cup 2024/25 final between Tanzania’s Simba SC and Morocco’s RS Berkane in May.

Kasarani Final Adding Pressure on Kenya

With the final slated for Kasarani on August 30th, Onsika believes that Harambee Stars, led by South African icon Benni McCarthy, will be under immense pressure from Kenyan fans to secure a spot in the final played on home soil.

“Reaching the final is the only acceptable outcome for them; the selection of Kasarani for the closing ceremony and final will undoubtedly put the team under serious scrutiny to ensure they qualify for that grand finale,” he stated.

Onsika further noted, “This is a unique opportunity for the nation to claim a major trophy. Having previously attempted to achieve success in AFCON without success, this will be our first time at CHAN, and playing it on home turf provides us with a genuine chance to win as well as allowing Kenyans to witness the best of African football.”

“However, it is clear that Kenyans will be disappointed to see two foreign teams competing in the final. For Harambee Stars, reaching and winning the final is the only way to avoid backlash; a failure to reach the final would be deemed a disastrous outcome.”

Onsika reminded the current Harambee Stars squad to take inspiration from the 1987 national team, which reached the final of the All-Africa Games held in Kenya. That year, 42 nations participated in 14 sports.

Under the guidance of the late Reinhard Fabisch, that edition of Harambee Stars made it to the football final but lost 1-0 to Egypt, in front of over 80,000 spectators, including former Kenyan President Daniel Moi. The decisive goal was netted by Mohamed Ramadan, extinguishing Kenya’s hopes of lifting the trophy.

During the group stage of the tournament, Kenya was placed in Group A alongside Cameroon, Madagascar, and Tunisia, finishing second with five points, just behind the Indomitable Lions, who had a superior goal aggregate, leading both teams into the knockout phase.

“What Harambee Stars achieved in 1987 was remarkable, even without lifting the trophy,” remarked Onsika. “They faced a formidable group yet performed exceptionally to reach the final. Losing in the final, while disappointing, was still a better outcome than being eliminated in the group stage.”

“It would be beneficial for the current squad to reflect on the 1987 team during the All-Africa Games and strive to surpass their performance. If the 1987 side reached the final, it is only fitting that the current squad is given the challenge to go one better and clinch the trophy.”

Onsika added, “We have a strong group of players poised to compete confidently in the CHAN tournament, and it is now crucial for Coach McCarthy to select the right squad while maintaining a clear focus on the ultimate goals of the competition.”

Group A’s Challenges

Harambee Stars are placed in Group A alongside Morocco, Angola, DR Congo, and Zambia, and will play all their matches at Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi.

“We shouldn’t fear any opponent if we’re aiming for the trophy. While some may say Morocco is a tough competitor, we must overcome that fear of facing teams from North Africa, and this mindset should be instilled in players before and during the tournament,” Onsika explained.

“In today’s football, the notion of favourites is outdated; upsets are commonplace in major tournaments. Kenya can rely on home support, play according to the coach’s strategy, and maintain concentration.”

When asked about Kenya’s prospects for the 2024 CHAN, Onsika replied, “I watched them recently in a friendly against Chad, and there has been significant improvement. Their passing, a past weakness, has noticeably improved, and their overall defence was strong.”

“What McCarthy must now refine is the attacking line, as we lack a player capable of converting chances. We generate opportunities but struggle to finish them. In the first friendly against Chad, despite dominating play, we ended with a 0-0 draw; we need someone to score, but I genuinely believe Kenya will reach the final of the 2024 CHAN.”

Group B, comprised of Tanzania, Madagascar, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, and the Central African Republic, will be hosted in Dar es Salaam, while Group C includes Uganda, Niger, Guinea, South Africa, and Algeria in Kampala. Group D will see matches featuring Senegal, Congo, Sudan, and Nigeria in Zanzibar.