Kenya national team secured a vital point despite the sending off of Marvin Nabwire after registering a 1-1 draw against Angola in their second Group A match of the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) at Kasarani Stadium on Wednesday.
Having lost their opener 2-0 against Morocco, Angola started strongly and took the lead in the seventh minute through Jo Paciencia before Austin Odhiambo scored from the penalty spot to level matters for Kenya in the 12th minute.
Kenya make a slow start
Just like the game against DR Congo, Kenya started at a slow pace, allowing the champions of COSAFA to dominate the midfield and create chances.
Against DR Congo, Kenya found themselves 1-0 down with only five minutes played, but the goal was ruled out for offside after a VAR review. Against Angola, they were punished in the seventh minute when Bernabe Muafulo Tomas won the ball from the right wing, and got into a good position, before setting up Paciencia.
The FC Bravos do Maquis forward dribbled past one defender before slotting the ball past the advancing Omondi. This time, VAR was not able to save Kenya, as the goal counted to silence Harambee Stars fans, who had thronged the venue to cheer them on.
The goal awoke Kenya, who immediately started to build their play from the back, and they should have levelled matters in the 16th minute when Austin Odhiambo combined well with Nabwire, who in turn released Boniface Muchiri with a superb pass, but the Ulinzi Stars striker missed the target.
However, Kenya’s relentless attacks paid off five minutes later when they were awarded a penalty following a clumsy foul on Odhiambo, who was advancing towards goal, by defender Joaquim Balanga.
After a review by VAR, Malian referee Sadou Ali Brahamou pointed to the spot. Odhiambo, the scorer of the only goal against DR Congo, dusted himself off to calmly send the Palancas Negras custodian Neblu of Primeiro de Agosto the wrong way.
However, Kenya’s efforts to double their lead suffered a huge blow when they were reduced to 10 men. Goalkeeper Bryne Omondi made a huge mistake by giving the ball away while trying to clear a back pass, and in an effort to prevent a goal, Nabwire grabbed Paciencia's shirt, and he was sent off for a second bookable offence.
After the sending off of Nabwire, Harambee Stars managed to keep calm and twice denied Angola from taking the game out of reach. The first effort was from Paciencia, whose glancing header was saved by Omondi before Alpha Onyango did well to block and clear a powerful goal-bound effort from Gilberto.
At the start of the second period, Angola and Kenya made a change - Joao de Jesus Ngunza was replaced by Anderson Emanuel, while for Harambee Stars, Muchiri was benched for Michael Kibwage. Austin Odhiambo and Alpha Onyango were later withdrawn for Chrispine Erambo and Ryan Ogam.
Angola thought they had won the game in the stoppages when substitute Kaporal found the back of the net, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
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DR Congo bounce back to winning ways
Meanwhile, in another Group A fixture at Nyayo Stadium, DR Congo reignited their campaign with a commanding 2-0 victory over Zambia.
Goals from Ibrahim Matobo and substitute Horso Mwaku helped the Leopards bounce back from their opening day defeat to co-hosts Kenya and keep alive their hopes of reaching the knockout stages.
The win marked the end of a five-match winless run for DR Congo at CHAN, while inflicting Zambia’s first-ever group stage defeat in the competition’s history - a remarkable statistic that stretched across 12 matches prior to kick-off.
