CHAN: Kenya cannot promise anything against Madagascar – Manzur Okwaro

Harambee Stars defender Manzur Suleiman Okwaro has remained cautious heading into their quarterfinal of the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) against Madagascar at Kasarani Stadium on Friday.

Harambee Stars under Benni McCarthy sealed their qualification campaign after finishing top of Group A with 10 points. They kicked off their campaign with a 1-0 win against two-time CHAN champions DR Congo.

In their second fixture, they drew 1-1 against Angola despite playing with 10-men and followed it up with a 1-0 win against another two-time champions Morocco, also in a game they played with 10-men. Their final group fixture saw them defeat Zambia 1-0.

“The fans should turn up in large numbers against Madagascar. It will be good for us to push ourselves hard. We cannot promise anything—it is football—but we will fight as hard as we can, and with God’s grace, we will win this trophy at home,” Okwaro told Citizen TV as quoted by Pulse Sports.

“There was a lot of pressure for me personally. I had never said at such a level before, as did a lot of the other players, but we pushed ourselves.

“In the games where we had to play nearly 70 minutes with 10 men, against Morocco and Angola who are good at keeping the ball, you can imagine how hard it was. But I thank God the team pushed itself hard.”

Kenya, who are making their debut in the CHAN, made history by qualifying for the last eight. A win against Madagascar will increase their chances of winning the trophy on home soil.

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