10-man Harambee Stars battle to draw with Angola in CHAN Group A clash

10-man Harambee Stars showed character and resilience after holding Angola to a 1-1 draw in an entertaining 2024 African Nations Championship (Chan) second Group A match played at Kasarani Stadium on Thursday.

Austine Odhiambo scored from the spot to cancel out Joaqium Paciencia’s early opener as Kenya moved top of Group A with four points, a point ahead of Morocco and DR Congo, who defeated Zambia 2-0 in an earlier match at Nyayo Stadium.

The match began with an electric pace, with two goals scored in the opening 10 minutes, as Kenyan fans celebrated and bemoaned three Video Assistant Referee (VAR) decisions.

The Southern Africans made their intent known from the second minute when Joao Muanha turned Daniel Sakari inside out from the right wing before finding an open Joaqium Paciencia, whose right-foot curler from the edge of the box beat a diving Bryne Omondi but sailed wide.

Muanha returned two minutes later, beating Sakari again before releasing a left-foot cross that Chitanga Hossi volleyed wide.

Angola switched their attack from the left wing to the right-hand side, this time wingback Hossi drilling a cross into the box that forced Omondi to come off his lines and tip the ball away before Alpha Onyango cleared.

The early pressure paid off in the seventh minute, this time Bernabe Tomas splitting Kenyan captain Abud Omar and Sylvester Owino before finding space for Paciencia, who beat a charging Omondi with a low shot to hand Angola a 1-0 lead.

The goal awakened the sleeping Kenyan team, who went on a rampage after the restart, pressing high and attacking from the flanks.

Five minutes after going behind, the pressure paid off for Kenya too, this time, however, it was through a penalty after Austine Odhiambo was brought down in the box.

It took the intervention of VAR officials to stop the game and summon centre referee Sadou Ali Brahamou to the screen. After a clear check, Brahamou found Angolan forward Afonso Marques culpable of clipping Odhiambo’s ankles and pointed to the spot.

The Gor Mahia attacking midfielder stepped up and sent Adilson Da Cruz in goal for Angola the wrong way to tie the scores for Kenya at 1-1 after 12 minutes.

Ten minutes after celebrating a crucial VAR decision, the 46,525 fans at Kasarani Stadium were silenced when referee Brahamou returned to the screen once again but this time checking on Harambee Stars' indiscipline at the back.

After a sloppy ball playing between the Stars defenders and goalkeeper Omondi, Marvin Nabwire was forced to make a late tackle from behind to deny Alberto Adao from scoring when Omondi left a loose ball hanging at the edge of the penalty box.

Brahamou showed Nabwire a yellow card, but after a VAR check, he rescinded his decision and sent Nabwire off to the disappointment of Kenyan fans.

Playing with a numerical advantage, Angola went on an attacking rampage in a bid to restore their lead, but the Kenyan defence stood tall.

In the 23rd minute, Tomas rounded off Sakari before releasing a cross that found Paciencia unmarked and free. However, the Angolan striker could only head wide.

Alpjonce Omija stood tall moments later, blocking and intercepting every attack.

At the stroke of half-time, Boniface Muchiri released Odhiambo through on goal, but despite a perfect first touch, the second touch took the ball away from the attacking midfielder as the teams went to the break tied at 1-1.

In the final half, Anderson Cruz replaced Muanha for the Angolan side, while Mike Kibwage came in for Muchiri on the Kenyan side in early changes.

Omondi was first to be called into action, putting his body on the line to deny Paciencia in a one-on-one attack for Angola and keep Kenya in the game.

Silvester Owino then showed composure with double blocks, clearing off the line from a corner set piece to keep Kenya safe again.

Second-half substitute Chrispine Erambo initiated Kenya’s first attack in the second half, carrying the ball from his own half before seeing his shot blocked.

A balanced attack followed in the last 10 minutes, and Kenya would have scored in the 86th minute when Owino found the side net after finding himself unmarked from a corner set piece.

VAR drama continued deep into stoppage time when Angola thought they had scored the winner after Kaporal headed in a last-minute goal.

The goal was ruled offside to the delight of the Kenyan fans as the game ended 1-1.

 Angola lost their opener 2‑0 to Morocco and needed to bounce back.