CHAN 2024: Benni McCarthy Sends Message To Fans after Angola Draw

Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy says Kenya’s spirited performance in front of a capacity home crowd was fueled by the incredible energy from their supporters, as his side battled to a 1-1 draw against Angola in their second African Nations Championships (CHAN) match at Kasarani Stadium on Thursday night.

The clash, played before 46,520 fans, saw Kenya overcome the setback of playing with 10 men for over an hour, coming within inches of pulling off a famous victory before a dramatic VAR decision denied Angola a late winner.

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McCarthy, visibly emotional after the game, made it clear that the fans were the real driving force behind the team’s resilience.

“Today, we experienced the 12th man. The fans were incredible. The Mexican wave, the noise—it was amazing. At times, when the game wasn't going according to the way we planned, and the way we set up—because we were a player less—the fans gave us that extra little boost,” said McCarthy.

The South African tactician described how the atmosphere inside the stadium kept his players fighting even when Angola had control of possession.

“Every time you saw the performance drop a little bit, and Angola was starting to play the upper hand and the way they wanted to, the fans just kept making an incredible noise. It lifted the players. I think today, we really, really survived because we had unbelievable fans," he added.

Kenya had fallen behind early when Jo Paciencia struck for Angola in the 12th minute after a flowing move down the wing from Antonio Da Silva.

Five minutes later, Austin Odhiambo restored parity from the penalty spot after being brought down by Afonso Marques.

The match took a dramatic turn midway through the first half when midfielder Marvin Nabwire was sent off for a foul on Alem.

With the scores level and the clock ticking down, Angola thought they had snatched all three points when Joao Manha powered in a header in stoppage time.

The celebrations from the visiting side were cut short, however, as VAR ruled the goal out for offside—a decision McCarthy said changed the energy in the stadium.

“From the first minute to the last minute—except for when they thought we went a goal behind. That was the quietest I've ever heard the stadium. It was dead. Even I was defeated. My heart sank. My heart just dropped. But then when VAR intervened—rightfully so, because it was a clear offside—the goal was disallowed,” McCarthy explained.

McCarthy acknowledged that Angola dominated possession but insisted they rarely threatened his side’s goal.

He felt Kenya’s counterattacks could have produced a winner before a costly mistake in the dying stages allowed Angola to counter and score what seemed like the winning goal—before VAR’s intervention.

“And of course, my heart dropped. I was sad for the players, the effort that they put in to find themselves in that situation where they could have won it if they had made the right decisions. And then one wrong pass cost us—a performance of grit, a performance of guts. No one expected us to even compete with 10 men against Angola. And we took them all the way to the wire.”

The coach ended by praising every player and fan for their part in a memorable night, even if the result left them wanting more.

“That’s why I felt for everybody on that pitch today wearing a white shirt. My energy, my heart—everything just dropped. Then eventually when VAR intervened—well, I had to be back, and show the same energy. So that was the sensation.”