Benni McCarthy takes up starring role as Harambee Stars rock Morocco

In one light, Sunday afternoon's suffocating of two-time African Nations Championships (CHAN) winners Morocco bears the name "The Benni McCarthy Game."

He could not avoid being the star, could he?

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In hindsight, my soft go at the manner in which the South African was introduced to Kenyans in that memorial show of McCarthy mania in March, might perhaps been those 'heat of the moment' scenarios.

He deserved all the warmth he received that afternoon.

Benni McCarthy-mania on show in rare Harambee Stars unveiling

For those of us who were unfortunately late to the party, the valiant 1-0 victory was the awakening - This is a different Harambee Stars, and for the first time in yonks, they have a head coach. Ouch.

McCarthy, a man who has cut a figure of absolute calm in high pressure moments through his reign as Harambee Stars coach, on this occasion, seemingly took his veil off, and invited you to Shibobo. Let's get ready to rumble!

For some reason, he was everywhere doing something but sitting on the dugout chewing on his bubblegum while in deep conversation with his assistant Vassili Manousakis.

Could well be that he was facing his friend on the opposition bench, who he spent only two weeks with in Porto during preseason.

If any scores were going to be settled between the pair, then McCarthy showed many how he does it.

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In the buildup to this game, there was this feeling once again, that Kenya were flat-out underdogs, and if the hosts had managed to scrap through their first two games, then this was going to be the hammer blow.

Cut from a different generation, McCarthy asked his men to play like the showmen they are, only that we did not expect him to lead the way.

McCarthy wants no repeat of early nerves from Harambee Stars against Morocco

That is why a picture of the 47-year-old standing over a match-ball during the team's walk-on went viral.

Such a thing to do when you have just made six changes to your lineup, handing half of them first starts in the melting atmosphere.

Pressure? What pressure?

Boniface Muchiri was perhaps the first man to raise his hand up on this new version of McCarthy, but only in apology, for having settled on a weak shot from range, instead of doing it the easy way of walking the ball to the net.

There was then the show of fury when Ben Stanley, for the second time in days, failed to tee up Ryam Ogam on a quick break.

Frustration later changed to a frenzy a few seconds later, when one of his changes cut in to slam a left-footed shot into the bottom corner.

Minutes later, a sarcastic approach after the sending off of his other change to this game - Chrispine Erambo- for a horrendous tackle.

He was on hot form on this day, even greeting a yellow card to his direction with the words: "well done."

A peep at the Kenyan bench during another nervy second half, the man was all over the place, dictating play and asking for quick transitions.

When Ogam bubbled a ball when clear, utter devastation.

There was so much to love from McCarthy all afternoon, but big remains his visible imprints of belief, shape, solidity, and resilience.

No matter the brave alterations to his leggy squad, there was not one man who failed to commit to the course.

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Seeing out a 1-1 draw against Angola might have looked like a fluke, but that ceases to be the case when the feat is repeated to even better execution.

There were no nails being bitten all through the second half, and definitely no reliance on the intervention of what is currently the nation's favorite equipment- VAR.

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Just a bank of five in front of an assured man-of-the-match winner, tireless bodies, and one-dimensional North Africans.

I might be no tactical expert, but his plan is working.

All his pre-match predictions have been right; his carrying to effect is down to a tee.

His final act? A raised right-handed fist, preceding him being engulfed by the entire bench.

Quite a way to pay tribute to the Special One, huh?