NAIROBI, KENYA – Kenya’s Harambee Stars bowed out of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) in heartbreaking fashion after a 4-3 penalty shootout defeat to Madagascar, but head coach Benni McCarthy remains hopeful about the team’s future.
The co-hosts were eliminated on Friday in Nairobi following a 1-1 draw that stretched through extra time. Despite the early exit, McCarthy praised his players for their resilience and performance in what was Kenya’s first appearance at the continental tournament, which features only home-based players.
“Nothing but proud of what we achieved. The players gave everything every single day in training and every match,” McCarthy told reporters after the game. “It was really good, but football is like that the lottery of penalties sometimes doesn’t go your way.”
The South African legend, who is his country’s all-time leading scorer and a former Manchester United coach, also congratulated Madagascar for their composure under pressure. “If you come to Kenya and can perform at such a stage with the fans and the noise, you deserve huge credit. Their nerves of steel in the shootout made the difference,” he said.
Madagascar coach Romuald Rakotondrabe admitted that the shootout nearly slipped away after his side missed the opening penalty, giving Kenya an early edge. But goalkeeper Michel Ramandimbisoa turned the tide, pulling off crucial saves including two in the shootout to secure Madagascar’s semifinal spot.
“We are very proud to have him with us. He has helped us in every match, and we hope he carries the same spirit into the next game,” Rakotondrabe said.
Ramandimbisoa now leads the tournament in saves and has been pivotal to Madagascar’s run, which follows their impressive third-place finish at the 2022 CHAN in Algeria. The island nation will face either Algeria or Sudan in next week’s semifinal as they chase another historic finish.
For Kenya, the exit was painful, but McCarthy’s optimism reflects a sense of progress for a side still carving its place in African football.