The two-time champions touched down at Kenya’s capital airport based in Nairobi - Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) - at 4:00am local time on Monday, ahead of the tournament reserved for players playing in their national league competitions.
Only Morocco defender Marouane Louadni, who plays for AS FAR, gave an audience to the media that was at the airport to receive the team by saying: “We are excited to be here and ready for CHAN. I already love Nairobi; the weather is great, and we are looking forward to a successful tournament.”
Group A, whose matches will be played at Kasarani and Nyayo Stadium, comprises DR Congo, Angola, and Zambia. Morocco, who will be aiming to become the first country to win the CHAN title three times, will kick off their campaign against Angola at Nyayo Stadium on Sunday.
Winners in 2018 on home soil and again in 2021 in Cameroon, Morocco are one of only two nations to have lifted the CHAN trophy twice - the other being DR Congo, whom they will face in the group stage.
Kenya have a great opportunity
Meanwhile, Kenya national team head coach Benni McCarthy is confident that Harambee Stars have the best opportunity to qualify from the group stage of the tournament.
“Honestly, it’s a great challenge. When you play football and then convert to become a coach, you always have that saying that to win anything you’ve got to beat the best,” said the South African legend as quoted by CAFOnline.
“For you to get to what you want, to be the best, the difficult teams will always be in your path and you have to beat them anyway. We have a great opportunity with two-time champions in the DRC and Morocco, Angola which is also very well respected as well as a tough nation in Zambia who have always been there in African football.
“And now, we have a Kenya who wants to have a taste of the top. This is our time and the squad we have gathered is hungry and wants success. How better than starting this in your own backyard?”
McCarthy added: “We play our matches on our home ground in front of the home fans and this is a perfect opportunity to do exceptionally well and eliminate teams that could probably get to the final early. This will be a massive challenge and a good test for the boys as well. We will be ready and come CHAN, I can very confidently state that we will be a team fearful of no one.”
On the squad’s preparations, McCarthy said: “I have watched lots of them in the league and I know that we have picked quality. I have also had the chance to train a few since I arrived here and I got first-hand experience to work with some of these players and judge them by myself.
“I see them and what levels they are at what I think we can get them to be. They have a mentality, mindset, work ethic and talent to get the work done. I know their abilities and I know what they can do. Now it is just a matter of implementing it on the pitch on matchday.”
Kenya will open their campaign against DR Congo on August 3 at Kasarani, with home support expected to boost the Harambee Stars’ ambitions.
