CHAN 2024 Group A: Possession-Heavy DR Congo, Dominant Morocco - Can Benni McCarthy's Harambee Stars' Survive?

With two days left until the start of the 2024 African Nations Championships (CHAN) which Kenya will be co-hosting alongside Uganda and Tanzania for the first time in history, there is a lot of feverpitch within the region, which is set to make history.

The tournament will serve as a test run for the upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which the region will also co-host for the first time ever.

For Kenya, who had two chances to host continental tournaments but fluffed their lines, it is an opportunity for them to show that they can take football seriously. The country’s national football team, Harambee Stars, have been placed in group A, alongside DR Congo, Angola, Morocco and Zambia.

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In the first of our four-part group stage profile series, his piece will analyse every team in the group, how they qualified, their tactical strengths, as well as their fixture dates.

Nickname: Harambee Stars
Appearances: 1st
FIFA Ranking: 109
Coach: Benni McCarthy

Kenya qualified automatically as hosts and head into their first CHAN appearance under the leadership of South African legend Benni McCarthy. Appointed in March, McCarthy has had just four matches to mold his philosophy — but his impact is already visible.

McCarthy favors a proactive 4-2-3-1, employing a high defensive line and energetic pressing. His system encourages creativity in attack, as seen in the thrilling 3-3 draw with Gambia, where substitute Mohammed Bajaber changed the game. 

Against Chad in June, McCarthy adapted to player strengths — deploying Moses Shumah as a target man in one match, then Emmanuel Osoro as a pacey, off-the-shoulder striker in another.

Kenya’s challenge? Turning promising tactics into tangible results against seasoned opponents.

Nickname: The Leopards
Appearances: 8
Best Finish: Champions (2009, 2016)
Coach: Otis N’Goma

With two CHAN titles and a reputation for dominance, Morocco returns with a mission to reclaim glory after missing the 2022 edition. Coach Tarik Sektioui — a former international with a strong youth-development track record — leads a side built on discipline, unity, and pace.

Sektioui’s Morocco blends structure and aggression, typically operating in a compact 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-1-1. Defensively, they fall into a 4-5-1 block to stifle opponents, but explode forward with wing play, quick vertical passing, and sharp transitions. 

They may not always control possession — but their pressing game often leads to higher-quality chances.

Having already won as hosts in 2018 and 2020, the Atlas Lions will be determined to complete a rare CHAN three-peat.

Nickname: The Sable Antelopes
Appearances: 5
Best Finish: 4th (2011, 2018)
Coach: Pedro Gonçalves

Pedro Gonçalves has shaped Angola into a tactically astute, well-drilled unit. A former youth coach who guided Angola to their first FIFA U-17 World Cup and a surprise AFCON 2023 quarterfinal run, Gonçalves continues to extract impressive performances.

Angola typically play in a 4-2-3-1, defending deep in a 5-3-2 or 5-4-1 block. Their intense man-marking and shape-shifting defensive schemes frustrate opponents, while their counterattacking game punishes lapses. 

Expect Angola to rotate smartly and play with discipline, particularly in high-stakes group matches.

They may not dazzle, but they will make life miserable for anyone underestimating them.

Nickname: Chipolopolo
Appearances: 5
Best Finish: 3rd (2009)
FIFA Ranking: 83
Coach: Avram Grant

Former Chelsea and Portsmouth boss Avram Grant leads a Zambian side that enters CHAN 2024 following a walkover qualification after Mozambique’s withdrawal. 

Grant’s deep experience, including a recent AFCON 2023 quarterfinal berth, brings calm and structure to Chipolopolo.

Zambia operates in a 4-3-3, using a mid-block to force wide play and create transition opportunities. In possession, their wingers are key, with central players attacking the box in numbers. Grant is tasked with getting the most out of local talent while navigating a demanding group — and he just might.