Benni McCarthy Names Kenya Squad for Crucial World Cup Qualifiers

Kenya’s head coach Benni McCarthy's named his 1st squad ahead of the crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Gambia & Gabon. The Harambee Stars'll play Gambia in Abidjan, Ivory Coast on Mar 20 before hosting Gabon in Nairobi on Mar 24.

The squad features mix of experienced players and promising young talents including captain Michael Olunga, Joseph Akumu, Brian Mandela and Masud Juma, alongside new call ups such as Australian born midfielder William Lenkupae, Edward Omondi, Ben Stanley, Kelly Madada and Andreas Odhiambo.

Local Training Camp Begins March 12

McCarthy also confirmed that local based training camp will commence on Mar 12 to evaluate homegrown talent ahead of both the CAF African nations championship CHAN and the World cup qualifiers.

“This Wednesday'll mark my 1st camp with local based players to assess their quality for the upcoming CHAN and potentially identify additions for the World cup qualifiers against Gambia & Gabon” McCarthy stated.

Full Harambee Stars Squad

Goalkeepers:

• Brian Opondo (Tusker FC, Kenya)
• Faruk Shikalo (Bandari FC, Kenya)
• Ian Otieno (Richards Bay, South Africa)
• Brian Bwire (Polokwane City, South Africa)

Defenders:

• Sylvester Owino (Gor Mahia, Kenya)
• Ronney Onyango (Gor Mahia, Kenya)
• Alphonce Omija (Gor Mahia, Kenya)
• Siraj Mohamed (Bandari FC, Kenya)
• Daniel Sakari (Kenya Police FC, Kenya)
• Levis Esambe (AFC Leopards SC, Kenya)
• Eric Ouma (Raków Częstochowa, Poland)
• Johnstone Omurwa (Kapaz FC, Azerbaijan)
• Joseph Okumu (Stade Reims, France)
• Collins Sichenje (FK Vojvodina, Serbia)
• Daniel Anyembe (Viborg FF, Denmark)
• Brian Mandela (Stellenbosch, South Africa)
• Amos Nondi (Ararat, Armenia)

Midfielders:

• Brian Musa (Kenya Police FC, Kenya)
• Chris Erambo (Tusker FC, Kenya)
• Austine Odhiambo (Gor Mahia, Kenya)
• Lawrence Juma (Gor Mahia, Kenya)
• Kelly Madada (AFC Leopards SC, Kenya)
• Ben Stanley (Gor Mahia, Kenya)
• Mathias Isogoli (KCB FC, Kenya)
• Andreas Odhiambo (Kariobangi Sharks, Kenya)
• Alpha Onyango (Gor Mahia, Kenya)
• Richard Odada (OFK Beograd, Serbia)
• Duke Abuya (Young Africans, Tanzania)
• Timothy Ouma (Slavia Prague, Czech Republic)
• Apollo Otieno (Dodoma Jiji, Tanzania)
• Amos Nondi (FC Ararat, Armenia)
• Eric Johanna (UTA Arad, Romania)
• Anthony Akumu (Kheybar Khorramabad, Iran)
• Ismail Gonzalez (Merida AD, Spain)
• William Lenkupae (Central Coast Mariners, Australia)

Forwards:

• Boniface Muchiri (Ulinzi Stars, Kenya)
• James Kinyanjui (KCB FC, Kenya)
• Alvin Mang’eni (Kenya Police FC, Kenya)
• Mohamed Bajaber (Kenya Police FC, Kenya)
• Eric Balecho (Tusker FC, Kenya)
• Ryan Ogam (Tusker FC, Kenya)
• Moses Shumah (Kakamega Homeboyz, Kenya)
• Edward Omondi (Sofapaka FC, Kenya)
• Elvis Rupia (Singida Black Stars, Tanzania)
• John Avire (Porto Suez, Egypt)
• Jonah Ayunga (St Mirren, Scotland)
• Michael Olunga (Al-Duhail, Qatar)
• Mathew Tegisi (Pamba Jiji, Tanzania)
• Masud Juma (Esteghlal FC, Iran)

Kenya currently sits 4th in Group F with 5 point from 4 match, trailing leaders Ivory Coast 10 point, Gabon 9 point and Burundi 4 point. The upcoming fixtures will be crucial in keeping their World cup qualification hopes alive.

Khaled Hegazy |

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Journaliste sportif spécialisé dans la couverture du football et la création de contenu numérique, alliant expérience éditoriale et expertise des médias sociaux.