Kenya will host the Democratic Republic of Congo in their opening Group Stage match of the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN) this Sunday at the Moi International Sports Centre in Nairobi.
Kick-off is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. local time (3:00 p.m. in France, 2:00 p.m. in Kinshasa, and 1:00 p.m. GMT). As one of the co-hosts of this year’s tournament, Kenya will be making its debut in the CHAN competition, facing a DR Congo side with a strong track record in the tournament.
Broadcasting for the match has been confirmed across several platforms. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, national broadcaster RTNC will air the match free-to-air for local viewers.
In Kenya, fans will be able to follow the game through SuperSport, KBC, and Azam TV. However, no French broadcaster has been announced for the fixture.
Kenya’s Harambee Stars A’ are entering the tournament with the weight of national pride and a near sell-out home crowd behind them.
Under the leadership of head coach Benni McCarthy, the team is aiming to make an immediate impact despite several setbacks in the build-up to the competition.
Injuries have cast doubt over the availability of three key players: Mohamed Bejaber, Brian Musa, and Marvin Nabwire. In response, McCarthy made late call-ups to bolster his squad, bringing in Chris Erambo, Brian Michira, and Edward Omondi.
The revised squad will look to rally under pressure and capitalize on the home advantage.
On the other side, the Leopards A’ of DR Congo are no strangers to CHAN success, having lifted the trophy twice in the past. However, their preparations have been far from ideal.
Plans for a high-level training camp in Algeria were scrapped after FECOFA, the Congolese football federation, chose to prioritise the completion of the domestic league.
This decision was influenced by a CAS directive, with FIFA sanctions looming if the national championship remained unfinished.
As a result, the DR Congo squad was limited to a single warm-up match against South Sudanese club Jamus FC, which they won 3-1. Administrative hurdles also disrupted preparations, with several players joining the team at the last minute.
Injured defender Henock Molia was replaced by Boaz Ngalamulume from TP Mazembe, while the arrivals of Ndongala, Mtange, and Mansanga were delayed due to paperwork issues.
Despite these challenges, DR Congo will be determined to assert their experience on the tournament. With a rich CHAN pedigree, they are widely regarded as one of the favourites to progress, but Kenya’s energy, home support, and hunger to impress could make for a tightly contested encounter.
The match not only marks the start of the CHAN campaign for both sides but also offers early insight into the tournament’s competitive landscape.
As Nairobi gears up for what promises to be a thrilling fixture, all eyes will be on whether the newcomers can stand their ground against the continental heavyweights.
