Austin Odhiambo Reveals Benni McCarthy's Tactical Switch that Delivered Top Spot for Harambee Stars

Harambee Stars midfielder Austin Odhiambo has praised Benni McCarthy for making a key tactical decision that helped them finish top of their group at the 2024 African Nations Championships (CHAN 2024).

Kenya beat Zambia 1-0 on Sunday to finish in top of a tough Group A that also had Morocco, DR Congo and Angola against the odds but the match against Chipolopolo was not an easy one for them.

The home side created chances but could not go past the defensive wall put up by Zambia, who threatened to pick up a draw that would have seen Kenya finish second in the group and face Tanzania in Dar es Salaam in the quarter-final.

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However, McCarthy made attacking changes in the second half especially the introduction of Masoud Juma and Boniface Muchiri with the former linking up with Ryan Ogam upfront and Kenya had a big threat in the final third.

It did not take long before Juma tested the Zambia goalkeeper with a free header from Muchiri’s cross before the Ulinzi Stars man then set up Ogam, who scored the only goal, as Kenya went top of the group with 10 points, one ahead of Morocco.

“It is a good feeling and we will also be able to play our quarter-final here at home because we have topped the group. That is enough motivation and again next game we hope all fans will be in the stadium,” said Odhiambo.

“In the second half, the coach decided to go more direct with two strikers and luckily, we have a good team and the ones that came in gave us a win and that is all we were looking for,” he added, explaining the coach’s tactical tweak.

Harambee Stars will now turn their attention to their quarter-final against Madagascar at Kasarani Stadium on Friday, hoping to secure passage into the semi-final and maintain their fine run.