CHAN 2024: Here’s how Kenya brought down DR Congo | OneFootball

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·4 August 2025

CHAN 2024: Here’s how Kenya brought down DR Congo

Article image:CHAN 2024: Here’s how Kenya brought down DR Congo
Article image:CHAN 2024: Here’s how Kenya brought down DR Congo

CHAN 2024: Here’s how Kenya brought down DR Congo

Kenya kicked off their CHAN 2024 campaign with a valuable 1-0 victory over DR Congo. In the post-match press conference, the Harambee Stars’ head coach explained how he managed to outwit the Leopards.

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Benni McCarthy credited the triumph to two key factors: the energy from the fans and a bold tactical gamble. In the press conference, the Harambee Stars’ coach was clear:

The supporters were our twelfth man. Their passion and support galvanized the players. The only regret: we could have scored one or two more goals.

But the real masterstroke was the repositioning of young Manzur Suleiman (20 years old). Initially set to play as left-back, he was moved into a defensive midfield role—a switch in which he excelled:

He’s young, brave, intelligent… exactly what we needed to break up Congo’s game plan.

Buoyed by this opening win, the coach still urged caution ahead of facing Angola on Thursday:

It won’t get any easier. The hardest part was to start well. Now, we have to stay focused.

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