Kenya forward Ryan Ogam has revealed that head coach Benni McCarthy once gave Harambee Stars’ attackers a harsh ultimatum during the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN).

Speaking on a local TV interview on Monday night, September 1, 2025, Ogam recalled the tense moments in a crucial group match against Zambia. Kenya had dominated play but failed to find the net in the first half. According to him, McCarthy made it clear that unless the team scored within the first 10 minutes after the break, all attackers would be benched.

“Yeah, the celebration was bigger. That game was important for us, but it was a difficult game,” Ogam said. “In the start of the game, we were dominating the play, doing everything, but we were not scoring.”

“So, going into the dressing room after the first half, Coach McCarthy was so harsh on us because he was saying that we were just playing for the sake. We were not going forward, we were not creating chances. So we had to score because he told us, in the next 10 minutes if you are not scoring, all the attackers, bench.”

Ogam’s goal

The warning added immense pressure on the forwards, but Ogam delivered when it mattered most. He described how his decisive strike came about.

“Muchiri found me in the box and for me before he made the pass, I just thought that if he gives me the pass, I should just turn and shoot. I think that was what I did and yeah, at the end of the day we won the game through a slight margin, but yeah, a win is a win. You take the win.”

Ogam went on to call it one of the best moments of his career, highlighting how discipline and mental strength were key to Kenya’s CHAN campaign.

Kenya’s journey in CHAN 2024 ended at the quarter-final stage, alongside co-hosts Tanzania and Uganda. Despite the exit, the Harambee Stars won praise for their fighting spirit. McCarthy has since carried that competitive mentality into World Cup qualification, where Kenya face back-to-back matches against The Gambia and Seychelles at Kasarani.

The coach recently admitted that choosing the final squad was tough, especially balancing CHAN performers with foreign-based players. With East Africa’s CHAN hopes over, McCarthy now wants to channel that same hunger into the World Cup qualifiers.