Kenya cemented top spot in Group A at the African Nations Championship courtesy of a 1-0 victory over Morocco on Sunday afternoon.
Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy named Bryne Odhiambo, Sylvester Owino and Boniface Muchiri as the sole survivors from the draw with Angola.
McCarthy’s men endured a tough start in the opening minutes as a potent header from close-range by Youssef Belammari struck the upright and back into play.
However, the Atlas Lions were forced into a substitution midway in the first half, with Youness El Kaabi introduced ahead of Ayoub Mouloua.
Morocco’s resistance fell three minutes to halftime when Ryan Ogam latched onto a loose ball and displayed quick feet in the area to find the bottom-corner.
The Harambee Stars were reduced to ten men after the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) instructed the man in the middle to show Chrispine Erambo a straight red card.
RS Berkane striker Youssef Mehri almost levelled matters a minute in the second half through a first-time shot off a through pass, but he fired wide of the target.
Kenya looked to have earned a penalty ten minutes after the break from a foul on Muchiri, but the referee overturned the decision following a VAR review.
The decision didn’t bother the Harambee Stars, who in less than a minute nearly doubled their lead with a glancing header from close-range by Owino, but goalkeeper El Mehdi Al Harrar was able to make the save.
Morocco’s forward ventures thereafter weren’t in short supply as a free-header in the area by Oussama Lamlaoui sailed over the target.
The Harambee Stars looked to settle the contest with a cleverly worked effort in the area from substitute Daniel Sakari, but Al Harrar smothered as McCarthy's charges held on for the win.
