Kenya coach McCarthy warns against complacency, Grant shifts Zambia focus to future
Kenya’s unbeaten march into the quarter-finals of the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) PAMOJA 2024 came with a warning from head coach Benni McCarthy — focus must remain as the journey gets tougher.
The Harambee Stars defeated Zambia 1-0 in Nairobi to finish top of Group A with three wins and a draw, sparking celebrations among their home fans.
But while McCarthy hailed the achievement, his opposite number Avram Grant was already looking ahead, stressing that the tournament had served as a testing ground for Zambia’s next generation.
McCarthy urges focus after perfect group stage
“I am very happy that the boys have delivered and picked three wins and one draw in the group stage. This has been as a result of hard work and we must remain focused ahead of the quarter final stage,” said McCarthy, who has transformed Kenya into one of the surprise packages of the tournament.
The South African tactician admitted that the late strike from Ryan Ogam against Zambia did not fully reflect Kenya’s dominance.
“Zambia was stubborn today; they defended and played very well. But, at the end of the day, when we moved the ball the way that we did, and created the chance for Ryan (Ogam), we scored one goal, yet we would have liked them to be more,” McCarthy explained.
‘The Group of Death’ experience
Kenya topped a pool dubbed the “group of death”, which also featured Morocco and DR Congo.
McCarthy was quick to point out the toughness of the journey, and could not resist a playful jab towards Tanzania, who will face Morocco in the next round.
“Tanzania, will get their wish, and they will experience what we experienced. The group of death, now Morocco is heading to Tanzania,” he said with a smile.
“I want feedback after the Morocco game, so that they know what we went through every game in this tournament. Good luck to Tanzania.”
The Harambee Stars’ reward for topping the group is a quarter-final on home soil, something McCarthy views as crucial.
“At the end of the day, I am happy with the win because we get to play our next match in the quarter finals, and we stay in Kenya, and that is all that is important,” he said.
Grant praises improvement despite exit
For Zambia, the result sealed a winless campaign, but coach Avram Grant chose to highlight the positives, particularly in defensive organisation.
“We showed improvement today, especially defensively. In the other matches, we were even poorer but we have shown good improvement. It’s important to know we bought a squad that we wanted to test, how they can fit in the senior team,” the former Chelsea and Ghana boss explained.
He added that Zambia’s long-term focus lies beyond CHAN.
“I’m not worried about the future of the team, because this tournament is basically for testing and exposing players in the local leagues. We have FIFA windows coming up next and that’s where our focus will be, with all the players playing in the abroad leagues available for selection,” he noted.
Respect for hosts
Despite Zambia’s struggles, Grant was gracious towards the hosts as he wrapped up his campaign.
“I really thank Kenya for the hospitality and the warm reception. The atmosphere has been good. I wish you well as you enjoy the rest of the tournament,” he said, addressing Kenyan journalists after the match.
Kenya riding momentum
As Kenya prepare for their quarter-final, the balance between celebration and caution remains.
McCarthy’s men have shown resilience in the so-called “group of death”, conceding just once in the group stage, but their coach is intent on keeping minds sharp.
With home advantage and an unbeaten run, Kenya enter the knockout stage full of belief.
For Zambia, the focus shifts to reshaping their squad for future competitions, with Grant clear that this tournament was only the beginning of a rebuilding phase.