Manzur Okwaro: From Kenya's U20 AFCON breakout to CHAN midfield general

From TotalEnergies CAF U-20 AFCON to CHAN heroics, 20-year-old Kenyan utility man thrives on big-stage pressure.

At just 20, Manzur Okwaro is already proving he belongs among the continent’s elite.

 After an eye-catching display at the recent TotalEnergies U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egpyt in May, the versatile Kenyan defender made a bold leap into the senior team, where he is now turning heads at the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) PAMOJA 2024.

But his transition to the big stage has been anything but ordinary.

A natural left centre-back who occasionally features at left-back for Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) FC, Okwaro was thrust into a defensive midfield role.

This is a position he had never played unitl Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy handed him the role in front of a roaring home crowd of over 40,000 fans against two-time CHAN winners DR Congo.

Far from buckling under pressure, the youngster thrived in the unfamiliar role, showing tactical intelligence, composure, and fearlessness beyond his years.

“I initially considered playing him at left-back based on what I saw in our friendlies,” said McCarthy.

“But after analyzing his attributes, I felt he was a perfect fit in midfield. He’s young, energetic, and brave—just what we needed to disrupt DR Congo’s game plan.”

Okwaro admitted he was taken aback when told about the positional shift, but embraced the challenge.

“At first, I was a bit shocked, but this is football. Getting time on the pitch is the most important thing. I was jittery at the start, but as the game progressed, I settled in really well,” he told CAFOnline.com.

McCarthy’s decision proved spot on. Okwaro’s tireless engine and anticipation allowed him to snuff out Congolese attacks, earning the coach’s admiration.

“DR Congo wanted to build around their big No.9. I needed someone strong, quick, and clever to break that supply chain. Manzur did exactly that,” the coach added.

It was McCarthy who spotted Okwaro during U-20 national team training, fast-tracking his debut in a FIFA World Cup qualifier against Gabon, where he impressed in a brief cameo.

“He’s physically strong, very good technically, and plays with such fearlessness,” McCarthy noted. “That’s the kind of bravery we needed.”

Okwaro’s rise has been meteoric. From the football nursery of St. Anthony’s Boys Kitale, to a spell at Rainbow FC, to eventually earning his break with KCB, where he walked straight into the first team after AFCON U-20.

“It’s been a steady rise and I’m trusting the process. I’m growing with every game,” he reflected.

“The U-20 AFCON was key—it gave me my first taste of international football and taught me a lot.”

His ambitions are now firmly set: breaking into Europe’s top leagues and becoming a regular for the Harambee Stars.

“The trust coach McCarthy has in me pushes me to work harder. I don’t want to let him down. It’s a positive push,” Okwaro said.

For the budding star, CHAN is more than a tournament—it’s a springboard.

“CHAN is a massive opportunity—not just to showcase my talent to Africa and the world, but also to improve and compete at the highest level,” he said.

“My aim is to help the team win and make it to the final on home soil, while putting myself high up the visibility chain.”