President William Ruto has praised Harambee Stars for their spirited performance at the Pamoja CHAN tournament despite bowing out at the quarter-finals.
The quarter-final clash had ended 1-1 in regular time, forcing the contest into penalties.
Kenya lost to Madagascar in a tense penalty shootout, ending their hopes of reaching the semi-finals. But in his message, the President said the team had exceeded expectations and brought pride to the nation.
“We had a remarkable run,” President Ruto said. “Harambee Stars have silenced doubters, lifted the spirit of a nation, and reminded us that when Kenyans play with courage, confidence, and determination, nothing is impossible.”
The Head of State noted that losing on penalties did not take away from the team’s achievements.
“Yes, we bowed out at the quarter-finals, but we fought valiantly to the very end. To lose in the lottery of penalties is no dishonour; to push the contest to such a finish is itself a badge of greatness.”
He congratulated Madagascar for their victory but stressed that Kenyans had every reason to celebrate their team.
“Throughout this tournament, our boys displayed resilience, grit, and an indomitable will. Every Kenyan is proud of you. You have united the country, given us moments of joy, and lifted our hopes.”
President Ruto urged Kenyans to continue supporting the tournament, which Kenya is co-hosting with Tanzania.
“Though we exit the tournament, we remain the proud co-hosts of the historic Pamoja CHAN. Let us continue to fill Kasarani with cheer, energy, pride, and love for the game — all the way to the final whistle.”
Looking ahead, he said the lessons learned would fuel future campaigns. “For our boys, the journey does not end here. Let us carry the lessons of this campaign into the road ahead, as we prepare for an even more spectacular Africa Cup of Nations in 2027. Kenya shall rise. Kenya shall triumph.”
In today's game, Kenya had started brightly, with Alphonce Omija striking first to ignite celebrations among the home fans. The crowd roared as the Harambee Stars took control, but Madagascar refused to be silenced.
After an earlier near-miss by Lalaina Rafanomezantsoa, the visitors eventually pulled level, forcing the game into a nervy deadlock.
