- Hours to Harambee Stars vs Angola showdown on Thursday at Kasarani Stadium, the team’s head coach Benni McCarthy has revealed his game plan
- Kenya faces Angola in their second 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) group-stage match this at 7 pm East African Time
- McCarthy hinted at potential tactical changes ahead of Harambee Stars vs Angola game
Hours to Harambee Stars vs Angola showdown on Thursday at Kasarani Stadium, the team’s head coach Benni McCarthy has revealed his game plan.
Kenya faces Angola in their second 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) group-stage match at 7 pm East African Time at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.
McCarthy’s squad comes off a hard-fought victory against DR Congo on August 2. Kenya won 1-0. This victory injected a fresh dose of anticipation by Kenyan fans, and the heat is already on for the Stars moving forward.
McCarthy on Harambee Stars vs Angola Match
According to McCarthy, Kenya faces Angola with a psychological advantage, having secured three points in their opening match against the Leopards.
However, he is aware that Angola is looking to bounce back after a 2-0 loss to Morocco in their first CHAN24 match.
Despite the result, Angola’s performance was above average. They dominated possession and displayed strong ball control throughout the game.
Speaking during his pre-match briefing, McCarthy explained that his technical bench had carefully studied Angola’s style of play.
In his gameplan for Harambee Stars vs Angola, is a strategy to neutralize Angola’s strengths while creating opportunities to exploit their defensive gaps.
McCarthy explained that the team usually plays with three defenders at the back, four players in the middle, and three attackers up front.
This formation helps the Stars keep control of the ball during the game. Nonetheless, McCarthy pointed out that Kenya’s real strength isn’t just holding possession.
It’s about staying organised and striking quickly when near the opponent’s goal. In simple terms, they don’t just pass the ball around—they know exactly when and where to attack.
The Harambee Stars coach said having more possession of the ball isn’t the most important thing.
Just like in the win against DR Congo, he believes the team should focus on getting the ball to their best players in critical areas near the opponent’s goal post.
That way, his squad can make a bigger impact and increase their chances of scoring, even without controlling the ball all the time.
Harambee Stars Formation
McCarthy hinted at potential tactical changes ahead of the Harambee Stars vs Angola game. He stated that each match requires a unique setup depending on the opponent’s game plan.
Talking about the game against DR Congo, the coach explained that he put Manzur Okwaro, who usually plays in defence, into the midfield.
This was to help stop DR Congo’s strategy of kicking long balls to their strong striker, Jephte Kitambala. McCarthy said Manzur’s speed made it easier to handle that kind of pressure.
In contrast, McCarthy has a tactical plan to match Angola’s playing style. Angola keeps possession of the ball and passes it around rather than play long balls.
Although McCarthy remained tight-lipped about this plan, fans should expect an action-packed match on Thursday evening.
Thursday’s match is also notable for being one of the recent matches that Harambee Stars will play under the floodlights on home soil.
