Kenya is co-hosting the biennial event designated for players from their local leagues, alongside its East African neighbors Uganda and Tanzania.

Harambee Stars, placed in Group A - often referred to as the 'Group of Death' - will compete against formidable teams DR Congo, Morocco, Zambia, and Angola in what is expected to be a challenging campaign.

Kenya, under the guidance of coach Benni McCarthy, has been training at Kasarani Annex, a facility next to Kasarani Stadium, in preparation for the tournament scheduled from August 2nd to 30th. Kenya will be making its debut in the CHAN, thanks to its role as one of three co-hosts of the tournament, alongside East African neighbors Uganda and Tanzania.

Kenya is energized and prepared for CHAN

According to the 25-year-old Odhiambo, who previously played for the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier side AFC Leopards, and has been part of the Kenya U20 and U23 teams, the fact that Kenya is hosting the final means that Harambee Stars have set their sights on playing in front of their supporters and winning.

“We have been anticipating this tournament for quite a while, and I believe the players are enthusiastic and ready for it,” Odhiambo told Flashscore.

“It is an honor to represent the national team, and it brings a lot of pressure, especially since we are hosting the tournament in Kenya, so we need to represent our country well, with no excuses for poor performance.”

Regarding how Harambee Stars players will handle the pressure of competing on such a significant stage, Odhiambo stated: “We will do our utmost to keep our fans happy, as achieving that will help alleviate the pressure. With the home crowd supporting us, it presents a great opportunity; we need to leverage their support against our opponents and aim for positive outcomes.”

When asked if Kenya is aiming for the CHAN title, Odhiambo, who plays for the record Kenyan champions Gor Mahia, replied: “Absolutely, yes, (we intend to win the title).

“As hosts of the tournament, we must have the ambition to win it. As players, we need to adopt a winning mindset, aiming to be champions every time we participate in a tournament; in my view, we possess the character to perform well and secure the trophy.”

Odhiambo added: “It will require a collective effort; no one can achieve this alone. It is a team effort, and we all need to share the same mindset. I believe we all have the right mentality going into the tournament, and we will make Kenyans proud.”

Odhiambo's views were supported by defender and club teammate Alphonce Omija, who dismissed the idea that the team is under pressure heading into the tournament.

“There is no pressure; we don’t feel any pressure. It’s just football being played on the field, and even if we do feel pressure, we know how to manage it, so there’s nothing to worry about,” said Omija.

When asked if Kenya will reach the final, Omija stated: “That is our goal; every team aims to reach the final, but we are prepared for each match, taking it one game at a time.”

With only weeks remaining before the opener against DR Congo at Nairobi’s Kasarani Stadium, McCarthy has made adjustments to his provisional squad of 30 players by dropping five. Those omitted include Tusker goalkeeper Brian Opondo, AFC Leopards’ Kelly Madada, Shabana FC’s Keith Imbali, and Ulinzi Stars duo Yakeen Muteheli and Staphod Odhiambo.

The South African legend further strengthened the squad with the addition of Kenya Police FC’s midfield anchor Marvin Nabwire and goalkeeper Bryne Omondi, who is currently without a club after departing Bandari FC at the conclusion of last season.

McCarthy will also have to cope without two key strikers Moses Shumah and Emmanuel Osoro. Initially included in the provisional squad, the two players, formerly with Kakamega Homeboyz and FC Talanta, are now ineligible to represent Kenya after completing transfers to Zambian Super League champions Power Dynamos on permanent two-year contracts.

Shumah concluded last season as the top scorer in the FKF Premier League with 17 goals, while Osoro finished second with 16 goals and provided seven assists.

Kenya to prepare for CHAN in Four Nations tournament

In anticipation of the CHAN tournament, coach McCarthy will have the chance to assess his squad's readiness when Harambee Stars participates in a CECAFA Four-Nations Tournament scheduled for July 21-27th at Karatu Stadium in the Arusha region of Tanzania.

Congo Brazzaville was set to participate in the tournament but withdrew and has now been replaced by Senegal. Aside from Sudan who are still concluding their league, all the CECAFA teams that will compete in the TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) will participate in the CECAFA Four-Nations Tournament.

Confirming the replacement of Congo, Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) Competitions Director Yusuf Mossi stated: “It is unfortunate that Congo Brazzaville withdrew due to logistical issues, but having Senegal join us will provide our teams Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania with a genuine test against a team from another region.”

Kenya coach McCarthy expressed his pleasure at having the opportunity to evaluate his players ahead of the CHAN tournament. “It will be an excellent chance to observe the players in a truly competitive environment,” said McCarthy as quoted by CAFOnline.

“This is also an opportunity for us to assess the systems we’ve developed and see how the players react under match pressure. It’s vital for generating momentum ahead of our first game against DR Congo.”

The tournament will follow a round-robin format, with each team playing three matches. Harambee Stars of Kenya will kick off their campaign against Uganda on July 21st, while hosts Tanzania will face Senegal the following day.

Matchday Three on July 24th will see Senegal take on Uganda, while Tanzania competes against Kenya. The final day on July 27th will feature Kenya playing against Senegal, while Uganda will face off against Tanzania's Taifa Stars.