Harambee Stars goalkeeper Byrne Omondi has revealed how receiving a red card motivated Harambee Stars to dig deeper and secure their crucial 1-0 victory over Morocco in their third CHAN match at Kasarani Stadium.

Speaking in a post-match interview on Sunday, August 10, 2025, Omondi, who was named Man of the Match, offered a unique perspective on the controversial moment that saw Kenya reduced to ten men.

“I think when the red card was shown and we were already one goal ahead, I felt like it was God’s way of reminding us to stay humble in order to get the win,” Omondi told reporters.

The goalkeeper explained that rather than viewing the red card as a disadvantage, the team saw it as a test of their character and resolve.

This, he says, forced the team to transform what could have been a setback into additional motivation to claim all three points.

“The red card could have set us back, but for us it was more of a motivation, and everyone gave even more effort,” he added.

Team’s determination

Omondi further revealed that Harambee Stars approached the Morocco match with a clear plan and a united mindset following a week of preparation.

“We knew it was a crucial match, so everyone had decided to give their all. We had a whole week to prepare, and we told ourselves we would give everything we had today,” he said.

When asked if he felt he had something to prove after the previous match against Angola, he dismissed these suggestions, insisting that the win was a collective effort.

“As a team, we stick together. Sometimes you have a poor performance, but we always lift ourselves up. I had nothing to prove individually — it was all about working hard as a team,” he explained.

He further credited coach McCarthy for reinforcing their resolve before kick-off.

“He just spoke to us as a team and told us it was an important match, and that we had to keep going,” Omondi said.