Harambee Stars Midfielder Mohammed Bajaber Upbeat to Take on 'Tough Opponents'

Harambee Stars’ rising star and fan favourite, Mohammed Bajaber, is embracing the opportunity to feature in the upcoming 2024 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN), set to kick off on August 2.

The tournament, which was delayed and will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, promises a unique platform for homegrown talent and for Bajaber, it’s the perfect stage to showcase his skills.

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“Playing in CHAN at home against tough opponents will be exciting,” the 22-year-old midfielder told viewers during NTV’s Monday night show, SportOn.

The Kenya Police FC player, who recently helped his club clinch the Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKF-PL) title, is currently in camp with Benni McCarthy’s national squad, which is finalizing preparations for the tournament.

Bajaber’s rise to prominence was anything but ordinary.

On March 20, in a high-stakes 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Gambia, the youngster came off the bench in the 62nd minute with Kenya trailing 2-0.

What followed was a moment of magic that etched his name into the hearts of Kenyan fans.

“Gambia had just scored their second goal before I entered the pitch. At 2-0 down, I told myself to express myself and have fun,” Bajaber recalled.

“It was an instinctive moment, a unique opportunity to play for my country. As soon as I got the ball, I knew I would score.”

His beautiful equalising goal helped Kenya salvage a dramatic 3-3 draw, and it marked the beginning of his journey as a mainstay in the national team.

Since then, Bajaber has become a regular feature in McCarthy’s plans, admired for his creativity, confidence, and composure on the ball.

With CHAN 2024 just days away, Bajaber is expected to play a crucial role in Kenya’s campaign, especially given that the tournament only features players active in their country’s domestic leagues.

His story reflects the tournament’s spirit of unearthing local talent and giving them an international platform to shine.

Kenyan fans will be watching closely, hoping the young midfielder can once again deliver a moment of brilliance and perhaps even guide Harambee Stars to their best-ever finish in CHAN history.