Kenya’s national football team, the Harambee Stars, is through to the quarter-finals of the ongoing African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 PAMOJA tournament co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.

The qualification comes without the team kicking a ball following the Group A mixed results from the matches played on Thursday, August 14, 2025.

Taking to their official X account on the night of Thursday, August 14, 2025, Harambee Stars expressed gratitude to God for advancing to the CHAN quarter-finals.

“Mungu Utatuua Na Baraka. Team ni Jamo Always,” Harambee Stars stated.

Kenya now sits at the top of the group with seven points, having two wins and a draw.

If the Harambee Stars manage to beat the already eliminated Chipolopolo of Zambia on Sunday, August 17, 2025, at the Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani, they will finish the group stages on top.

Thursday Group A results

Two-time champions Morocco reignited their CHAN 2024 campaign with a 2-1 win over Zambia in Thursday’s early kick-off at Nyayo National Stadium, recovering from their earlier loss to Kenya.

Morocco started the match with urgency, knowing only a win would keep their quarter-final hopes alive. They dominated the early stages, creating multiple chances through Khalid Aït Ouarkhane, Abdelhak Assal, and Youssef Mehri. The breakthrough came in first-half stoppage time when Mehri’s corner found Mohamed Hrimat, who rifled a right-footed shot into the top corner to make it 1-0.

The second half saw Zambia respond, introducing Charles Zulu and Andrew Phiri to increase attacking pressure. They appeared to have equalised in the 65th minute through Happy Nsiku, but VAR ruled the goal out for a foul in the build-up. Morocco took advantage immediately, with Mehri again providing the assist for Oussama Lamlaoui, who met the cross with a precise header to double the lead.

Later in the day, Angola suffered a 2-0 defeat to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The mixed Group A results handed Harambee Stars a quarter-final ticket without kicking a ball.

Even if Kenya loses their final match, only one of Morocco or DRC can overtake it — thanks to Kenya’s superior head-to-head record, having beaten both sides earlier in the tournament.

The group’s final clash between Morocco’s Atlas Lions and DRC’s Leopards will seal one team’s fate, with both currently tied on six points.

For Kenya, however, the mission remains clear: beat Zambia, finish top with 10 points, and avoid a quarter-final showdown with neighbours Tanzania in Dar es Salaam.