Ryan Ogamβs cool finish in the 75th minute gave Kenya a 1-0 win over Zambia at Kasarani and sent Harambee Stars top of Group A. The stadium erupted. Fans cheered. Kenya finished the group unbeaten and booked a home quarter-final against Madagascar.
The goal came after coach Benni McCarthyβs smart changes. Fresh legs from the bench stretched Zambiaβs defence. Muchiriβs run on the right led to a low, one-touch finish from Ogam that beat the keeper. The move was simple. The finish was precise. The timing was perfect. McCarthy summed it up: βWhen everybody said this was the Group of Death, most people thought we would finish bottom without a single point. But we are on top of the mountain now.β
There was more on the line than pride. Ahead of the match President William Ruto raised the stakes. He told the team he would give each player KSh 2.5 million if they beat Zambia. βIf you win against Zambia, I will reward each one of you with Sh2.5 million,β he said to cheers. The promise followed earlier pledges of KSh 1 million per win and KSh 500,000 per draw for the group stage, plus larger bonuses for later rounds and housing offers for deeper progress in the tournament.
Money can change a gameβs mood. For many players it is immediate reward and national recognition. Short-term cash boosts focus. Players say extra rewards give them pride and hunger to deliver on the field. At the same time, incentives add pressure. Coaches must manage nerves so motivation does not become a burden. The team handled it well at Kasarani β disciplined defence, quick transitions, and calm finishing under noise. The result shows the mix of tactic and temperament working together.
Defence carried Kenya through. The backline kept shape as Zambia pressed late. Goalkeeper Farouk Shikalo made a key save when it mattered. Kenya conceded only one goal in four group matches β a sign of balance that should help in the knockout stage.
Now comes the quarter-final. One match. Win and the tournament gets harder. Lose and the run stops. Madagascar await at home. The crowd will return. The pressure will rise. The money Ruto promised may still hang in the air. But in the end, football is decided by 90 minutes of focus, fitness and fine margins.
For a country hungry for good news, this win is both reward and promise. The players have one more test. If they keep playing with the same calm and energy, they will keep giving Kenyans reasons to cheer β and perhaps, reasons to believe that the bonus was worth every moment of pressure it brought.
Featured image via screengrab