On the eve of their opening match in the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) publicly accused Kenya of espionage, stirring controversy behind the scenes of the tournament. This Sunday, the Leopards take on the host nation’s Harambee Stars at Nairobi’s Kasarani Stadium amid heightened tension beyond the sporting field.
During a press conference on Saturday morning, Otis N’Goma, DRC’s coach, publicly revealed suspicious activities around their last training session: “We noticed suspicious movements around our training ground. Such behavior does not honor a competition like CHAN”. This accusation came just hours before a highly anticipated match between two football powerhouses.
A two-time CHAN champion (2009, 2016) with seven participations, the DRC is a favorite in this tournament. Yet, this spying controversy temporarily overshadowed the Leopards’ preparation as they grappled with added pressure. Nevertheless, N’Goma remains optimistic, calling it “positive pressure”: “Despite limited time to prepare, we are ready”.
Kenya, as a host country with 60,000 supporters at the stadium, faces DRC in a highly competitive Group A that also includes Angola and Morocco. Kenyan coach Beni McCarthy emphasized the unity and determination of his squad, acknowledging both the difficulty and motivation behind his player selections.
This tense atmosphere highlights the high stakes of CHAN, a tournament exclusively showcasing talent from African domestic leagues. The opening match—marked by the spying allegation and an electric ambiance—sets the tone for the competition jointly hosted by Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya.
