Kenya get perfect liftoff in 2024 COSAFA Cup after stunning record champions Zambia

Kenya pulled off a big upset in their opening match in the 2024 Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) Cup as they stunned record champions Zambia 0-2 in the Group B match played at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth, South Africa on Thursday evening.

Goals from the talented Austin Odhiambo, who is fresh from celebrating his second league title with Gor Mahia, and Patrick Otieno helped Kenya secure the big win that saw the Ken Odhiambo-coached side taking early control in Group B which also consists of Zimbabwe and Comoros.

"We knew Zambia would not be an easy side and we knew that we would need to score some early goals which worked for us. We still have a lot of work to do going into the other games because this is the first time we are assembling this young team," Odhiambo remarked after the game.

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Despite not being a member of the COSAFA region, Kenya received an invite to take part in the tournament following Malawi’s withdrawal and the team signalled they did not come to make up the numbers after finding some early breakthrough in the game.

Just nine minutes in, Odhiambo, who is being heavily touted for the Most Valuable Player award in the just concluded 23/24 Football Kenya Federation Premier League, stepped up and converted from the penalty spot after Patrick Otieno was pulled down in the box by Zambia’s Chitoshi Chinga.

Just ten minutes later, Otieno turned goalscorer himself after his clever movement saw him sneaking in front of a Zambian defender before poking Benson Omalla’s low cross into the back of the net to double the team’s lead.

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The second goal came off the back of a well-constructed link up play between clubmates Austin and Omalla before the latter delivered a searching low cross into the area which Otieno gladly finished.

In the second half, Otieno came close to bagging his second of the match in the 66th minute but his powerful header from an Austin free-kick was brilliantly saved by Charles Kalumba.

Zambia piled some late pressure as the game ticked but brilliant defending coupled by Bryne Omondi's awareness in between the sticks saw Kenya grab a clean sheet on top of the three points.

With Zimbabwe beating Comoros 0-1 in the other Group B clash, Kenya raced top of the Group courtesy of a superior goal difference.

Kenya need to finish top of Group B to be assured of a place in the semifinals.

Only the group winners and the best second-placed side from across the three pools will advance to the last four.

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COSAFA CUP FORMAT

Last year saw a departure from previous tournaments with 12 teams competing, split into three groups each containing four sides. It will be the same for 2024.

The group winners and best second-placed side from across the three pools will advance to the semifinals. The winner of Group B will take on the winner of Group C, with the top team in Group A to meet the best runner-up.

DECIDING GROUP PLACES

Should two or more teams finish on the same number of points in the pool phase, they will be separated by the result of their head-to-head meetings in the first instance.

If this does not provide a conclusion, the next criteria will be goal difference resulting from the group matches between the teams concerned and then greater number of goals scored in all the group matches between the teams concerned.

If there is still no clear winner, then goal-difference in all group matches and finally a Fair Play points system in which the number of yellow and red cards are evaluated will be used. Failing that there will be the drawing of lots.

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