Kenya vs Zambia: 3 Areas Harambee Stars Must Master to Beat Chipolopolo in CHAN 2024

Former Harambee Stars' coach Jacob 'Ghost' Mulee has sounded the alarm ahead of Kenya's CHAN 2024 group-stage decider against Zambia's Chipolopolo this Sunday.

Kenya enters the match on the back of a decent performance at the tournament, but Zambia's inconsistency and physicality make them a dangerous side to play against.

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Apart from the on-pitch confrontation, the game also comes with logistical and psychological considerations. Taking Group 'A' leadership would mean that Kenya would not have to travel as far for the knockouts and could continue to enjoy home support.

Slipping to second position could mean a reversal to away action versus Tanzania — something that would significantly amplify the difficulty of going further.

Kenya's assault has appeared promising, but Mulee maintains the team must turn dominance into goals.

A small tournament like CHAN does not afford much tolerance for wasted opportunities, and there is no margin for mistakes ahead of goal. To Mulee, a good striking corps may be the difference between going through with ease and struggling to qualify.

"We need to score more goals. The competition, especially here in Nairobi, has been extremely competitive, and that is why we have to do better on finishing," he explained as per The Star.

Taking maximum points from the final group match would secure top spot of Group 'A', and this spot depends on the overriding advantage of staying in Nairobi and benefiting from more home crowds.

To miss out on their chances would mean a costly second-place fall, which would have Stars away to Tanzania in the next round. Mulee calls this "counterproductive" and believes that the only way of avoiding it is by being ruthless from the start against Zambia.

In high-stakes tournament football, discipline is typically the unspoken deciding factor. Mulee emphasized that having all eleven players on the field for the entire 90 minutes is essential to Kenya's success. Careless challenges or indiscipline could put Chipolopolo on top numerically, swinging the game in their favor.

"Benni McCarthy never intended to play with 10 players on the field although he responded very bravely in the last two games," said Mulee.

It is his belief that discipline is not just not getting red cards but to also be disciplined, to be organised, to respect the game plan, and not to make unnecessary fouls in exposed areas.".

For Mulee, discipline goes beyond the players to spectators. He has denounced recent fan misconduct in Nairobi, threatening that such conduct will result in CAF punishments and upend Kenya's preparations for larger competitions, including the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

Though Kenya's qualification prospects can be assisted by what happens elsewhere in the group, Mulee insists that they ought not to rely on others. Rather, the Stars need to take full control of their destiny by beating Zambia flat out.

"While Kenya can qualify depending on what happens in Morocco versus DRC, the focus should be on accomplishing it," he advised.

Playing the game with a winning mentality, and not playing to draw, is the only way to secure safe entry into the knockout round without any doubt.

This targeting, Mulee adds, will also play on the players' minds.

By positioning Zambia as a necessity to defeat, the Stars will hone their tactical effectiveness and maintain the quality of pressure needed at the later stages. It's a message meant to keep the players humble, hungry, and more than convinced of what is to be done.

Despite the warning, Mulee is optimistic. He praised the tactical adaptability of coach Benni McCarthy, the rotation of players, and faith in new recruits, noting that the team's progress has been impressive.

"It is what you do within the 90-plus minutes that determines your outcome," Mulee concluded.

"If we retain McCarthy through to 2027, this young team will produce even better outcomes."