Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy has showered praise on his charges after they sealed a place in the quarterfinals of the ongoing CHAN 2024 tournament, calling the feat “a victory for the nation and the badge.”
“This was not just about winning a football match,” McCarthy said in an interview.
“It was about lifting our flag high for the fans who filled the stands, and for the millions watching from home. Tonight, the boys gave Kenya a reason to believe again.”
Kenya’s Group A campaign was far from straightforward. They had to grind out results through disciplined defending, tactical patience, and sudden bursts of attacking flair.
For McCarthy, Kenya’s success is as much about the spirit inside the dressing room as it is about tactics.
“You can have the best systems in the world, but without trust between players, you have nothing,” he said. “This group — from the goalkeeper to the last substitute — fights for each other like brothers. That’s why we’re in the quarterfinals.”
McCarthy also paid tribute to Kenya’s group-stage opponents, noting that each game brought valuable lessons.
“Every team we faced gave us something different,” he said. “One taught us patience, another humility, and another tested our courage. In tournaments like this, you grow match by match, and I’m proud of how we’ve grown.”
With the knockout stages looming, McCarthy is under no illusions about the challenges ahead. Kenya’s run has sparked a wave of celebration from Nairobi to Kisumu, Mombasa, and Eldoret. Streets come alive at night as fans gather around big screens, while social media buzzes with hashtags like #HarambeeStars and #RoadToGlory.
“Football is more than a game — it’s a way of uniting people,” McCarthy said. “When a kid in Garissa sees us win, maybe he dreams of wearing this jersey one day. When a grandmother in Nakuru hears the roar of the crowd, maybe she feels prouder of the flag she flies. That’s why we do this.”
Despite the accolades coming his way, McCarthy insists the real heroes are his players. Asked whether the pressure of the knockout rounds worried him, McCarthy shook his head.
“Pressure? No. Opportunity? Yes,” he said. “This is the stage where great stories are written. We have our pen ready — and I promise you, we’re not done writing.”
