Kasarani to the world: Host Kenya roars into CHAN Quarters with All-African CoachesBench power
Story by Bob Anyula | GoodmoryKenya News
From the coastlines of East Africa to the blistering sands of the Maghreb, something seismic is shaking African football.
Eight nations. Eight African coaches. No borrowed brains. No foreign messiahs. Just raw, homegrown brilliance marching into the CHAN 2024 quarterfinals with fire in their eyes and history on their boots.
The narrative has flipped. Gone are the days when East Africa played the role of polite participant. Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania — co-hosts of this festival — have turned from backdrop to centre stage. And what’s more? They’re led by their own. Coaches not trained in cold European labs, but sharpened by Africa’s sun, dust, dreams, and defiance.
This isn’t luck. This is legacy in motion.
Let’s meet the minds behind the mission. And yes — we start at home, where Nairobi breathes anticipation.
Benni McCarthy – Kenya
The Comeback Kings. The Group of Death Slayers. The Harambee Hurricanes.
Who gave Kenya a chance? Nobody. Who’s laughing now? Everyone wearing red, green, black, and white.
Benni McCarthy — born in Cape Town, crowned in Porto, and now preaching football gospel at Kasarani — has performed the miracle of CHAN. His youthful Harambee Stars were thrown into a pit with Morocco, DR Congo, Zambia, and Angola. They clawed, fought, and danced their way out, showing grit, flair, and frightening tactical maturity.
McCarthy, a UEFA Champions League winner and South Africa’s record goal-scorer, has taken Kenya from underdog to apex predator. His mantra? Play without fear. Fight with purpose. Win for the badge.
And now comes Madagascar — a side with pedigree, yes, but this time they face the lions of Kasarani. That stadium won’t be a venue, it’ll be a volcano. Nairobi is ready to roar.
Hemed “Morocco” Suleiman – Tanzania
The Zanzibari tactician has fused island artistry with ruthless structure. His Taifa Stars are unbeaten and unbothered. Next up? A poetic showdown with Morocco — the team whose name mirrors his nickname. You can’t script this.
Morley Byekwaso – Uganda
The man who once fetched balls as a KCCA ball-boy is now calling the shots from the dugout. From teenager at AFCON 2000 to U-20 African finalist, Morley’s rise is a script Uganda needed. Against Senegal, he carries a nation’s hope on his shoulders — and a chip on his shoulder too.
Souleymane Diallo – Senegal
The quiet operator. A man with defending champions under his wing. No noise, no drama — just wins. His style? Pragmatic, disciplined, deadly. Uganda beware.
Tarik Sektioui – Morocco
A magician from Morocco’s technical schools, Sektioui already has an Olympic medal and domestic silverware in his locker. His team hasn’t blinked once, but now they face a Tanzanian wall. Something’s got to give.
James Kwesi Appiah – Sudan
The Ghanaian legend who stunned Nigeria 4–0 and didn’t flinch. Appiah, Africa’s first Black coach to lead Ghana to a World Cup, is writing his second act with Sudan. Algeria won’t find this one easy.
Madjid Bougherra – Algeria
An ex-Rangers hardman, now architect of Algeria’s stonewall defense. His team’s allowed just one goal. Cold, clinical, championship-built.
Romuald Rakotondrabe – Madagascar
A CHAN bronze in 2022. Best group-stage coach. But on Friday, he faces a storm he hasn’t met before — Nairobi’s furnace and Benni’s fired-up Stars. If CHAN 2022 was a fairytale, this might just be reality’s rude awakening.
The Takeaway?
Eight African coaches. Eight African stories.
No imported philosophies. No colonial scripts. Just brilliance born and bred on African soil.
But while the continent celebrates, Kenya sharpens its blades. We’ve already slain giants. Now, we stand 90 minutes away from a CHAN semifinal — on home turf, with destiny knocking.
So, to Madagascar: welcome to Kasarani.
To Africa: behold the new power brokers.
And to the doubters: never write off the Harambee Stars again.
#PamojaAfrica | #TeamKenya | #CHAN2024 | #GoodmoryKenyaSports
