How Gritty, Tiny Madagascar Extinguished Kenya’s CHAN Hopes

Nairobi

Kenya national team’s journey in the CHAN tournament came to an end after they suffered a 4-3 penalty shootout defeat against Madagascar after a 1-1 draw in normal and extra time in the quarterfinals fixture at Kasarani Stadium on Friday.

Spurred on by a sold-out crowd, Harambee Stars started on a positive note with Ben Stanley Omondi winning a free-kick from outside the box. Boniface Muchiri stepped up to curl a right-footed effort which troubled Madagascar goalkeeper Ramandimbisoa Michel before going out for the first corner of the game.

Kenya continued to attack with the crowd rallying behind them and Omondi should have scored in the 12th minute after being put through by Muchiri but Michel came out of his line to clear the danger.

Kenya almost paid for the missed chances five minutes later when Madagascar almost took the lead. A long ball from the keeper found forward Jean Luc Ranaivoson unmarked but before he could loop the ball past Bryne Omondi, the Harambee Stars custodian came out of his line to hit the ball back to play.

Kenya continued to look the dominant side and in the 23rd minute, they had another great chance to break the deadlock but it went begging. A super delivery from midfielder Marvin Nabwire, who was red carded in the group stage game against Angola, found Stanley Omondi unmarked inside the box but his glancing header went inches wide.

Muchiri squandered another chance for Harambee Stars in the 28th minute after his attempted left foot effort from outside the box hit the legs of a Madagascar defender for a fruitless corner.

Kenya’s finishing continued to be wanting as striker Ryan Ogam, the scorer of the 1-1 draw against Angola and 1-0 win against two-time CHAN champions Morocco, missing another open sitter after Lewis Bandi and Alpha Onyango had exchanged passes from a counter attacking move.

At the start of the second period, Kenya started from where they had left and it took them only one minute to take the lead.

A free-kick from Muchiri found Alphonse Omija, who rose the highest to thump in a header past the stretching hands of Michel. 

A minute after the restart, Kenya thought they had doubled the lead when Ogam bundled in a loose ball from a corner, but his effort was ruled out for a push on a defender by Stanley Omondi in the build-up.

Madagascar levelled the scores from the penalty spot in the 69th minute after Kibwage handled the ball inside the box. Fenohasina Razafimaro stepped up to send Omondi diving the wrong way.

After extra- time, the game went to penalties with Madagascar scoring the first and Mohammed Saraj converting for Kenya. Keeper Omondi saved Madagascar’s second after diving the right way before Sakari scored to make it 2-0 for Kenya. 

Madagascar scored to make it 2-1.

Sylvester Owino scored Kenya’s third before Madagascar scored their third. Kibwage then missed Kenya’s fourth with a weak effort before Omija hit his effort wide. (By Dennis Mabuka for CHAN LOC)