Former Harambee Stars head coach James Nandwa has rallied the national team to embrace their underdog status as they prepare to make their debut at the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN), set to kick off on August 3 in Nairobi.
Speaking ahead of the highly anticipated tournament, Nandwa encouraged the team to use past disappointments as motivation and approach the competition with belief and resilience.
“I want to request that it doesn’t matter whoever we play in our opening match, let’s fight for a point if it will be hard to win,” said Nandwa. “I am confident that this team will do well because we have good players. Let’s not fear our opponents or focus on their reputations. Embracing the underdog tag will help us play with zero pressure.”
Harambee Stars are in Group A alongside tournament giants Morocco, Angola, DR Congo, and Zambia, a group widely dubbed the ‘group of death.’ Kenya opens its campaign against DR Congo on August 3 at Kasarani Stadium.
Nandwa highlighted home advantage as a potential game-changer, urging head coach Benni McCarthy to sharpen the team’s attack. “What the head coach should polish is our front line. We have to be clinical in front of goal to have any chance of progressing.”
He also criticized the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) for the last-minute withdrawal from the CECAFA Four Nations tournament in Arusha, Tanzania, a move he believes denied the team crucial match experience.
“It would have been so helpful in giving the team a wake-up call. It’s a missed opportunity,” he said. “I urge the technical director Francis Kimanzi and all local coaches to support McCarthy fully. We needed at least one friendly match before kick-off, and I still believe there’s time to organize one.”
Kenya will face Angola on August 7 at 7:00 p.m. before taking on former champions Morocco on August 10 at 3:00 p.m. The final group stage clash against Zambia is slated for August 17, also at 3:00 p.m.
With the top two teams in each group advancing to the knockout stages, Harambee Stars will need strong performances to keep their CHAN title hopes alive on home soil.
Written By Rodney Mbua
