Black Friday Kenya's football fans will want to quickly forget

And so, all good things come to an end, and on Friday night, it did for Kenya’s national team Harambee Stars fans.

This battalion was feeling the pain. They felt let down when it mattered most.

Their elimination from African Nations Championship (Chan) 2024 by Madagascar was unexpected, even though it was one of the possibilities.

But why now? Why when all plans for fans to travel to Tanzania for the semi-finals was at an advanced stage?

A day after any calamity, sadly, life has to go on. No matter the repercussion, it has to. And that’s the reality of life. Nothing is permanent. Even if the cock does not crow, the sun will rise again… You see, life doesn't have to be perfect to be wonderful. It just happens.

If they had the chance, the Kenyan nation would have asked Confederation of African Football (Caf) to put the tournament on hold, or better still, give co-hosts Kenya and Tanzania another chance, given their painful riddance.

But they cannot. They can’t dictate to the gods on how life ought to be, not now, not ever.

Harambee Stars had the chance to bury the match, but they didn’t. They were inexcusable for some blunt finishes for most of the evening in this quarter-final tie.

Granted, there were some flash moments of brilliance from Tusker danger-man Ryan Ogam, with Ulinzi Stars midfielder Bonface Muchiri delivering a couple of crosses from the wings. For most of the times, Aboud Omar was stoic while marshalling his defence line.

On a good day, when Ogam steps into the field, he oozes class. His dexterous touches, his unforced side-steps while coming face-to-face with his markers, or when completing those magnificent passes through the eye of a defensive needle, are just but some of the ingredients of Ogam’s astounding arsenal.

But they did not convince with their kind of display as they did against DR Congo, against Angola, against Morocco, or even, against Zambia.

This was a chance for Harambee Stars to cement their place in Africa’s second premier football tournament after African Cup of Nations.

Making the debut in this year’s tournament, the gods of football presented Kenya with a golden chance to exorcise the ghosts of missed chances; but instead, two missed penalties by Alphonce Omija and Mike Kibwage somewhat clumped Kenya’s young generation into a fix they will want to quickly disentangle themselves from.

Anytime Madagascan players with their stern faces were beamed across the big screens inside Kasarani Stadium as the teams warmed up before kickoff, there were constant boos from the animated fans.

At times, the boos seemed louder when the stadium announcer called out their line-up. It was that bad. Undoubtedly, it was going to be a pretty long night for the visitors. Unfair treatment? Maybe. Did they deserve it? Undoubtedly. The stakes were high, really high.

Coming into this last eight fixture, Kenyans were in dire need of any kind of win to advance to the last four.

The fans were here in their thousands and in good time too. They needed that one last push. Singing and dancing was all they did the moment they stepped into the venue of the tie.

Men and women, boys and girls, couples and all, they were here in flesh and blood. As they sung the Kenyan national anthem, tears were almost welling on some eyes of the Kenyan fans.

The moment they were dreaming of had arrived. And hours before the 5pm kickoff, they were patiently waiting. Waiting for that moment when they could see their sons emerge from the tunnel.

When both teams emerged from the tunnel, noise inside Kasarani Stadium  went up several decibels.

Their enviable patriotism was there for all to behold. They waved their miniature flags, dressed in national team colours, while for others, they had Kenyans flags painted on their flawless cheeks.

As both teams lined up for their respective national anthems, they froze. Seconds later, with lungs full of oxygen, they sang along.

For some time, it was evident that this was going to be Kenya’s night. A juncture where the players would bring out their A game.

But as time kept on elapsing, so did their hopes of playing in the coveted semi-finals for the first time in 38 years.

With Kenya leading 1-0, the semis were in sight, but when Fenohasina Razafimaro calmly beat Byrne Omondi to level matters after Lewis Bandi handled in the box, the drumming and dancing stopped. Reality checked in.

At the final whistle with the scores Madagascar 4 Kenya 3 after post-match penalties, more silence overtook the stands as fans stared unresponsively on the one big screen inside the stadium. This is what all of them were dreading most.

Head coach Benni McCarthy never left the cooler box he sat on when the penalties were being taken. He hardly moved. With his hands crossed at his chest, he just sat and watched. Probably wishing for a different ending. If only things were somewhat different, if only…

Masoud Juma sat on the grass, totally spent. Captain Aboud Omar patted the back of a drained Edward Omondi. Their 480 minutes of hope and trust had suddenly been turned into interminable torment. It felt like a wink at the wrong time.

It was a collapse that was quite raw, devastating and unbearable.

At this stage, teams that usually thrive are the ones with a sublime edge. Kenya lacked that edge.

On that strenuous night, fans of free-flowing football were swiftly retold of how to win matches; just win ugly.

But surely, there is a different feel to this new team. There’s an extra vigorous touch and excitement after years of unpredictability, only that they need to learn how to win, whichever way.

Friday will be a night Kenya’s national team Harambee Stars would want to quickly forget.

Borrowing from South African reggae maestro Lucky Dube’s song… It's not easy to understand it son, but I hope you'll make it, you'll be happy again…

All that remains now is hope because the damage is already done.