Benni McCarthy has recalled defender Brian Odhiambo and Ismael Gonzalez in his first squad as the Harambee Stars manager ahead of the crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Gabon and Gambia.
The squad features a mix of experienced and promising young talents with AFC Leopards’ Kelly Madada and Andreas Odhiambo making the team. Australia-based midfielder William Lenkupae gets his first call-up while Masud Juma returns to the team following a long layoff with injury.
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“Wednesday will be my first camp with local-based players to assess the quality for the upcoming CHAN and identify potential additions for the World Cup qualifiers against Gambia and Gabon,” McCarthy said after the squad announcement on Tuesday.
Harambee Stars will first face Gambia on Thursday, March 20, 2025, at Stade Allasane Ouattara in Ivory Coast the team will then return home to take on Gabon at Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi on Sunday, March 23, 2025. The match is scheduled to kick off at 4 PM.
Harambee Stars Provisional Squad
Goalkeepers: Brian Opondo (Tusker FC), Faruk Shikhalo (Bandari FC), Ian Otieno (Richards Bay), Brian Bwire (Polokwane City)
Defenders: Sylvester Owino (Gor Mahia), Ronney Onyango (Gor Mahia), Alphonce Omija (Gor Mahia), Siraj Mohamed (Bandari FC), Daniel Sakari (Kenya Police FC), Levis Esambe (AFC Leopards SC), Eric Ouma (Rakow Czestochowa), Johnstone Omurwa (Kapaz fc), Joseph Okumu (Stade Reims), Collins Sichenje (FK Vojvodina), Daniel Anyembe (Viborg FF), Brian Mandela (Stellenbosch), Amos Nondi (Ararat)
Midfielders: Musa Katibi (Kenya Police FC), Chris Erambo (Tusker FC), Austine Odhiambo (Gor Mahia), Lawrence Juma (Gor Mahia), Kelly Madada (AFC Leopards SC), Ben Stanley (Gor Mahia), Mathias Isogoli (Mara Sugar FC), Andreas Odhiambo (Kariobangi Sharks), Alpha Onyango (Gor Mahia), Richard Odada (Dundee United), Duke Abuya (Yanga), Timothy Ouma (Slavia Prague), Apollo Otieno (Dodoma Jiji), Amos Nondi (FC Ararat), Eric Johanna (UTA Arad), Anthony Akumu (Kheybar Khorramabad), Ismail Gonzalez (Merida AD), William Lenkupae (Central Coast Mariners)
Forwards: Boniface Muchiri (Ulinzi Stars), James Kinyanjui (KCB FC), Alvin Mang’eni (Kenya Police FC), Mohamed Bajaber (Kenya Police FC), Eric Balecho (Tusker FC), Ryan Ogam (Tusker FC), Moses Shumah (Kakamega Homeboyz), Edward Omondi (Sofapaka FC), Elvis Rupia (Singida Blackstars), John Avire (Porto Suez), Jonah Ayunga (St Mirren), Michael Olunga (Al – Duhail), Mathew Tegisi (Pamba Jiji), Masud Juma (Esteghlal FC)
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