Kenya’s CHAN dream fueled by McCarthy’s Mourinho-inspired masterclass

Benni McCarthy stood on the touchline in Nairobi on Sunday evening, fists clenched, eyes burning with pride.

The former South African striker had just masterminded one of the African Nations Championship’s most improbable wins, Kenya’s 1-0 triumph over two-time champions Morocco, and done so a man down for nearly half the match.

For McCarthy, this was more than a result. It was a tactical statement.

“I played under José Mourinho, the master of such game management,” McCarthy said after the match. “To play with 10 players is hell, but we used to do it as if it was routine. I learned the trade from him: where to tighten, who to sacrifice.”

The decisive moment came in the 42nd minute, when Ryan Ogam buried a loose ball to send the Moi International Sports Centre into rapture. But joy quickly gave way to tension  Chrispine Erambo’s yellow card was upgraded to red after a VAR review, leaving Kenya to defend their lead against one of Africa’s most relentless attacking sides.

McCarthy’s response was straight out of the Mourinho manual: sacrifice a striker, compress the midfield, and seal every defensive gap.

“If you are ahead, you protect it at all costs. It might not be pretty, but it’s effective,” he explained.

Goalkeeper Bryne Omondi was heroic, pulling off a string of saves to deny Morocco, while defenders Sylvester Owino and Mike Kibwage threw themselves into every block. 

Full-backs Siraj Mohammed and Lewis Bandi tracked runners like shadows.

Remarkably, this was Kenya’s second straight game playing with 10 men against Angola they had also endured a dismissal and still avoided defeat. McCarthy called it “pure bad luck,” but his side’s resilience has turned adversity into belief.

With two wins and a draw from their opening three games, Kenya now stands on the brink of a historic quarter-final in their CHAN debut. A result against Zambia could seal top spot in Group A.

For Morocco, it was a shock to the system, their 14-match unbeaten CHAN run shattered by a debutant side. For McCarthy, it was a reminder that football’s biggest upsets are often born from grit, not glamour.

“I know not everyone will love the style,” McCarthy admitted. “But I’m here to bring success to Kenya. And if that means parking a bus — or even two — then so be it.”