CHAN 2024: Inside the Dressing Room as DP Kithure Kindiki Consoled Harambee Stars After Tournament Exit

Deputy President Professor Kithure Kindiki urged Harambee Stars players to remain proud despite their exit from the African Nations Championship (CHAN 2024).

Harambee Stars were off to a great start in the tournament, having an unbeaten run in their group stage campaign. They opened their campaign with a 1-0 win over two-time champions DR Congo.

In their match against Angola, Harambee Stars battled for a 1-1 draw before reigning supreme in their two remaining matches over two-time champions Morocco and Zambia.

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Harambee Stars ended their group stage matches with 10 points ahead of Morocco, who accumulated nine.

DR Congo and Angola came in second and third with six and four points respectively. Zambia ended their CHAN 2024 journey with zero points after losing all their group stage matches.

Harambee Stars reached the quarterfinals against 2022 bronze medallists Madagascar but bowed out of CHAN 2024 after a heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat.

Addressing the players in the dressing room after their CHAN 2024 campaign came to a sad ending, Professor Kithure Kindiki acknowledged that it was not the expected results but urged Harambee Stars to build up from there.

He pointed out that with the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations next in line, Harambee Stars should not give up on their dreams, but instead, pick up the lessons learnt and ensure they go one place better in the continental showpiece.

Kithure Kindiki assured the Harambee Stars players that they had made history, noting that Kenya had never taken as much pride in its national team as it did on Friday, August 22.

He emphasised that the match against Madagascar had been crucial, adding that from the start, he had seen them play their hearts out and perform very well.

“We are feeling what you’re feeling, all of us…allow us who have come here, we have cheered you today from when the match started. We are, of course, not happy with the outcome, but we must accept what this sport brings our way,” Kithure Kindiki said.

“We will now pick the lessons and build the momentum because we now have a strong national team. We have AFCON just around the corner, and I’m sure we shall do well.

“We have a lot to do to support the players and federations, and we want to do much better in AFCON. I know how it feels because we had this thing until the last minute, but just know that we are proud of you.”

Elsewhere, Tanzania’s Taifa Stars also bowed out of the CHAN 2024 tournament after losing 1-0 to Morocco in their quarterfinal match played at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium on Friday night, August 22.