Joint hosts Kenya completed their group A matches with a single goal defeat of already eliminated Zambia, ensuring they went through to the quarter-finals as group winners.
After previous crowd issues a reduced number of tickets were sold for this game.
But it definitely did not diminish the level of noise that greeted their heroes whenever they moved close to the opposition area.
Conditions were relatively cool and rain fell later in the second period but that certainly didn’t dampen the spirits of the local fans, who could now dream of Kenya making it to a final at their home stadium.
Especially as they would now host Madagascar in the last eight.
In this match the Harambee Stars set about pressing the Zambians early with midfielder Austine Odhiambo often involved.
But one of the best chances of the first half fell to Stanley Omondi and Ryan Ogam but they couldn’t produce a telling effort.
Kenya had been more threatening, although less so as the half progressed, and the Zambians, though limited going forward, could feel satisfied they had survived the initial pressure.
The second period had a similar pattern of mostly Kenyan attacks (plus a few shots from Zambian captain Kampamba), but there were also too many misplaced passes.
However, eventually the key moments arrived and it was Tusker FC’s Ryan Ogam who first tested Kalumba in the Zambia goal with a header before he delivered the decisive left foot strike from inside the area.
That was on 75 minutes and it was greeted by tremendous noise from around the Moi International.
It removed any doubt that Kenya would stay in Nairobi for the quarter finals.
As to whether they could actually win the CHAN title, that might be too much to ask (with some strong opposition still in the competition) despite the massive local support.
But Benni McCarthy’s men can certainly enjoy their success to date while they await their encounter with Madagascar.
Report from Nairobi – John Bethell
