NAIROBI — Kenya’s Harambee Stars fought with grit and no shortage of drama to earn a 1-1 draw against Angola in their African Nations Championship Group A clash on Thursday.
It was a match that tested the nerves of fans at the Moi International Stadium from the very first whistle. Angola struck first, stunning the home crowd with a goal in the seventh minute. The visitors looked sharp and confident, their early lead threatening to open the floodgates.
But Kenya responded almost immediately. Four minutes later, midfielder Austin Odhiambo coolly converted from the penalty spot after the hosts were awarded a penalty. It was Odhiambo’s second goal of the tournament, following his opener against DR Congo in the first match.
The game took another turn in the 21st minute. Referee consultation with VAR saw Kenya’s Marvin Nabwire upgraded from a yellow card to a straight red for a challenge deemed dangerous. Reduced to ten men, the Stars had to dig deep.
The second half was a tense battle of willpower. Angola pressed hard, with Kaporal finding the net deep into stoppage time, but the goal was disallowed for offside — a decision that left Angolan players furious and Kenyan supporters breathing a sigh of relief.
Coach Benni McCarthy praised his side’s resilience. “With ten men for most of the game, this team showed heart. That’s the spirit we’ll take into the next match,” he said after the final whistle.
For Angola, the result felt like an opportunity missed. “We should have killed the game earlier,” one player admitted, speaking to local press after the match.
Kenya now turn their attention to their final group fixture, knowing a win could still secure a spot in the knockout stage. The fight is far from over.
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