Disregarded National Event in Kenya: Football Fans Look to Expeditiously Move Past Black Friday
Kenya's Harambee Stars Eliminated from African Nations Championship 2024
Friday night at Kasarani Stadium will be a night Kenya's national football team, Harambee Stars, would rather forget. In a raw, devastating, and unbearable collapse, the team was eliminated from the African Nations Championship 2024 by Madagascar.
The elimination ended Kenya's hopes of playing in the semi-finals for the first time in 38 years. Fans, who were in their thousands and were singing and dancing before the match, were left disappointed and let down by the team's performance.
The Harambee Stars had a chance to win the match but failed to do so due to blunt finishes. Captain Aboud Omar and his teammates lacked the sublime edge needed to win the match, a missed opportunity to cement their place in Africa's second premier football tournament after the African Cup of Nations.
The fans, who had Kenyan flags painted on their cheeks and were waving miniature flags, were patiently waiting for the moment when they could see their team emerge from the tunnel before the 5pm kickoff. Noise inside the stadium increased significantly when both teams emerged.
Ryan Ogam, a player from Tusker, delivered a couple of crosses from the wings but did not convince with his display as he did in previous matches. Despite leading 1-0, Kenya was eliminated by Madagascar after post-match penalties (4-3).
Head coach Benni McCarthy watched the penalties from a cooler box, showing little emotion. Captain Aboud Omar patted the back of a drained Edward Omondi after the elimination.
The Harambee Stars' elimination was unexpected despite being one of the possibilities. The team had faced challenges during the tournament, such as playing with 10 men twice, which likely affected their performance and chances of winning. Despite their debut in the African Nations Championship 2022, they were unable to win the tournament.
The fans, who had been planning to travel to Tanzania for the semi-finals, now have their plans at an advanced stage before the elimination. It is a missed opportunity for Harambee Stars to cement their place in Africa's second premier football tournament and for the fans to witness their team play in the semi-finals after 38 years.
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