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South Sudan clawed back from a goal down to frustrate Harambee Stars to a 1-1 draw in the second leg of their 2024 CHAN qualifier and ultimately deliver a 3-1 aggregate win.
Harambee Stars' journey in the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers ended on a disappointing note after a 1-1 draw with South Sudan in the return leg at Kampala's Nelson Mandela Stadium on Sunday.
Despite taking an early lead through Austine Odhiambo, the Kenyan side, already guaranteed a spot in CHAN as tournament hosts, could not overturn their deficit from the first leg, which they lost 2-0 in Juba.
The aggregate score of 3-1 in favor of South Sudan sealed Kenya's exit from the qualifiers.
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15:24 - 03.11.2024
Austine Odhiambo captains Harambee Stars as starting line up for South Sudan CHAN re-clash in Kampala is named
Austine Odhiambo wears the captain's armband as Engin Firat names starting line up for CHAN 2024 return leg against South Sudan in Kampala.
Fielding a rotated lineup compared to their previous match, Harambee Stars aimed to make an immediate impact. They succeeded when Odhiambo struck in the 10th minute to give Kenya a 1-0 lead and raise hopes of an aggregate comeback.
The early goal sparked brief momentum, and in the 27th minute, Kenya had another chance to level the tie. Rooney Onyango, fed a perfect through ball by Chrispine Erambo, advanced well but saw his shot deflected wide for a corner.
However, South Sudan did not fold under pressure. They equalized just before halftime in the 43rd minute from a well-executed free-kick situation, which dampened Kenya's hopes and reinforced the Bright Stars' aggregate advantage.
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07:00 - 03.11.2024
What exactly happened? Inside the chaos that erupted at Machakos Stadium during Gor Mahia’s clash against Murang’a Seal
Chaos erupted at Machakos Stadium when Murang'a Seal equalised in the dying minutes of their clash against Gor Mahia which resulted in a 2-2 draw.
The second half opened with both teams struggling to find attacking rhythm. It wasn’t until the 61st minute that Aboud Omar delivered a dangerous cross from the left, putting the South Sudanese defense under pressure, but the Kenyan forwards failed to capitalize.
Kenya’s possession-heavy play lacked penetration, and the search for a breakthrough grew increasingly desperate.
Austin Odhiambo attempted to reignite Kenya’s chances with a long-range shot in the 83rd minute, but the effort drifted wide.
Unable to break down a resolute South Sudan defense, Harambee Stars settled for a draw, their efforts falling short in a match that underscored their challenges ahead of hosting the CHAN tournament in February.
South Sudan will now be facing Rwanda in the next round in the hopes of sealing qualification to the tournament.
The result is a sobering reminder for Kenya’s technical bench to re-evaluate their strategies as they prepare for the upcoming tournament on home soil. For South Sudan, the draw marked a significant achievement, showcasing their growing capabilities on the regional stage.
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