CHAN 2024: Coaches, News, Preview of Every Team Harambee Stars Will Face in Group of Death
- Harambee Stars will have their work cut out for them at this year's African Nations Championships (CHAN)
- Kenya was drawn in the Group of Death, where they will face Morocco, Angola, Zambia and DR Congo
- TUKO.co.ke analyses every team in Group A, their head coaches, previous wins and what to expect from them
Education is Your Right! Don’t Let Social Norms Hold You Back. Learn Online with TUKO. Enroll Now!
Harambee Stars will get their CHAN 2024 campaign rolling when they play DR Congo at the Kasarani Stadium on August 3.
Source: Twitter
Kenya will make its debut at the tournament after getting automatic qualification by virtue of being one of the co-hosts.
It will be a perfect opportunity for the local-based players to showcase their talent as head coach Benni McCarthy starts to lay the groundwork for AFCON 2027.
From the onset, it is not expected to be a walk in the park for Harambee Stars. Kenya were dealt a bad hand during the group stage draw in January.
Search option is now available at TUKO! Feel free to search the content on topics/people you enjoy reading about in the top right corner ;)
Kenya's opponents at CHAN 2024
Kenya's Group A will feature two teams that have won the competition twice, another team that won AFCON recently and one capable of upsetting the big boys.
Let's break it down.
Morocco
The Atlas Lions were the first team to arrive in Nairobi on Sunday evening and will be hoping to leave with the trophy after the August 30 final.
From world-class training facilities to better structures, the Moroccan Football Federation and the government have been very intentional about supporting the sport.
The two-time winners, in 2018 and 2020, boast of a very robust league which produces teams that compete in the latter stages of CAF competitions. Wydad Casablanca were recently at the FIFA Club World Cup.
After missing the last edition, Tarik Sektioui's charges will be eager to reclaim their title.
DR Congo
Like Morocco, Fimbu are the only other nation to have won the competition twice and could make history by becoming the first country to win it thrice.
One might argue that their performances have waned since their 2016 triumph and TP Mazembe's recent dwindling fortunes, but Otis N’Goma's side will still have a better squad than most teams at the tournament.
The Leopards have been in Algeria for an intensive training session with TP Mazembe duo Oscar Kabwit and Faveurdi Bongeli expected to lead their charge in East Africa.
Angola
Angola turned a few heads with their run to the quarterfinals at last year's Africa Cup of Nations. The flair, intricate passes and immaculate goals of the Palancas Negras captivated many.
Of course, head coach Pedro Gonçalves won't have most of that squad, but his side's dominance at the COSAFA Cup shows he still has a talented pool of players to call upon.
Goncalves' journey with Angola began in 2019, when he took the youth teams through different competitions before he was handed the reins of the national team.
Angola's best finish was when they were beaten finalists in the 2011 final against Tunisia. This will be their fifth appearance at the tournament, having only missed two editions.
"I have the privilege of celebrating six years as Angola's national team coach. The journey has been long and enjoyable. Our progress since 2019 has been substantial, and this will be the second consecutive CHAN that I am proud to have qualified Angola for," he told CAF Online.
Zambia
The Chipolopolo will also be making their fifth appearance at CHAN. Their best finish was in 2009 when they won the bronze medal. Since then, they have gotten out of their group but failed to advance past the quarterfinals.
Source: Getty Images
They will rely on the wealth of experience of their coach, Avram Grant, who was in charge of Chelsea when they reached the 2008 Champions League final. He took Zambia to the quarter-finals of AFCON 2023.
"I don’t think the opponent is important. What’s key for us is to play as a team and show that winning mentality. CHAN is like a tool for us. Our main national team is composed of local players. We have a tough group, but that will help us grow in such an environment."
How much are CHAN 2024 tickets?
In a separate report, we compared CHAN 2024 tickets across the three host nations.
Tickets have been on sale ahead of the first game between Tanzania and Burkina Faso, before Kenya takes on DR Congo.
Uganda will get their campaign underway on Monday against Algeria.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
