CHAN2024: McCarthy laments Harambee Stars' nerves despite draw against Angola
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Reading Time: 2min | Fri. 08.08.25. | 08:42
The 47-year-old challenged his players to match their status as Kenya’s best by adapting quickly and showing composure from the start
Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy has expressed frustration over recurring first-half jitters in his team.
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Despite securing a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Angola in their second Group A match of the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN).
Kenya played more than 75 minutes with ten men after Marvin Nabwire was sent off in the 21st minute, but still managed to earn a point.
While McCarthy welcomed the result and praised his side’s resilience, he was critical of their sluggish start.
“The mistake is what is costing us. We are causing ourselves a lot of pain because players are still getting nervous,” McCarthy said.
“I understand the occasion is big, but players now have to take control. In the first half, we looked extremely nervous. In the second half, everyone calms down and plays accordingly, but in football, you cannot play for 45 minutes and not for the other 45.”
The 47-year-old challenged his players to match their status as Kenya’s best by adapting quickly and showing composure from the start.
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“Whoever is in the squad must understand that they have made it to the pinnacle of elite football. You cannot still be like someone who has never walked onto a football pitch before or never seen a stadium full of people. That is what my team is doing, and it is very costly.”
McCarthy compared the Angola clash to their opening game against DR Congo, where he felt the same early-stage vulnerability was evident.
“Even against DRC, we could have easily been a goal or two down before we got into the game. Now in the second match, we make the same mistake, like an eight-year-old going to school and getting punished.
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I don’t know how we will learn, but with my technical bench, we must change this because the team can play.”
The former Manchester United attackers’ coach and South African international believes the squad has the talent to improve if they can deliver consistently over the full 90 minutes.
“The players have quality and ability. We still made it difficult against Angola, but we must get over this fear factor for 45 minutes,” he concluded.
