Kenya faces Angola in high-stakes CHAN clash at Kasarani

African Nations Championship
Today
At 4pm
DRC v Zambia
At 7pm
Angola v Kenya 

When Kenya steps onto the pitch for their second Group A fixture against Angola today at Moi International Sports Centre in Nairobi at the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024, they won’t just be defending a lead. They will be defending a dream. 

Fresh off a historic 1-0 debut win over DR Congo, the tournament co-hosts face Angola in a matchup that pits rising momentum against urgent redemption.

For Kenya, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Making their first appearance at CHAN, they shocked an experienced DR Congo side thanks to a composed strike from Austin Odhiambo — the first CHAN goal in the country’s history. With three points in hand, they now have the chance to match the feat of Madagascar in 2022, who as debutants won their first two games en route to a memorable campaign.

But standing in their way is an Angolan side with a point to prove and history on their side. Although Angola fell 2–0 to Morocco in their opener, the performance wasn’t as one-sided as the scoreline suggests. They enjoyed nearly 60% possession and boasted a 90% pass completion rate. Midfielder Kinito was particularly influential, touching the ball more than any other player and anchoring their play with 85 attempted passes.

Despite the numbers, Angola remain without a win in their last five CHAN matches and are yet to win an opening game in any of their six tournament appearances. That slow start pattern leaves them with a familiar task, turn things around in matchday two, something they managed in 2018, when a narrow win over Cameroon salvaged their group stage hopes.

History offers them other lifelines too. Angola have shown resilience against host nations in the past, most notably in 2011 when they drew with Sudan in the semi-finals before winning on penalties. Their record against East African opposition is strong, having beaten Ethiopia in 2016 and edged past Sudan in a high-pressure knockout tie.

But this time, the dynamic is different. Kenya are not just hosting — they’re playing with belief. Their defensive unit, led by Alphonse Omija’s six clearances and Daniel Sakari’s duel dominance, showed impressive discipline against DRC. Offensively, while chances were limited, they were clinical when it counted.

This clash is also a personal one for head coach Benni McCarthy, whose own playing days included two encounters against Angola — a draw at AFCON 1998 and a friendly win in 2002 where he found the net. His leadership now guides a Kenyan side writing its own story on the CHAN stage.

As the two sides meet for the first time in the competition’s history, the match promises a fascinating narrative. For Angola, it’s about survival and course correction. For Kenya, it’s about momentum and making history again.

What’s clear is that both teams have more to play for than just three points. They’re playing for legacy, for pride, and for the path forward in a group where every fixture reshapes the stakes.