Key Omissions and New Inclusions: Benni McCarthy Unveils Harambee Stars’ Final Squad for World Cup Qualifiers

Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy has announced his 23-man squad for Kenya’s upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Gambia and Gabon, making some bold decisions as he trimmed the provisional list.

Notable Exclusions Raise Eyebrows

Among the biggest talking points is the omission of Australian-born midfielder William Lenkupae, who had drawn significant attention. Gor Mahia’s in-form midfielder Austin Odhiambo, despite his stellar FKF Premier League performances, has also been left out, alongside teammates Sylvester Owino, Alphonce Omija, Lawrence Juma, and Alpha Onyango.

McCarthy’s final selection indicates a preference for tactical balance and experience over recent club form. The exclusion of Odhiambo, the reigning FKFPL MVP, has sparked debate, but the coach remains confident in his choices.

Squad Preparation and Fixtures

Since March 12, 2025, the team has been in camp in anticipation of two important qualifiers:

• March 20, 2025 – Gambia vs Kenya at Stade Alassane Ouattara, Ivory Coast
• March 23, 2025 – Kenya vs Gabon at Nyayo Stadium, Nairobi (Kickoff: 4 PM)

Kenya sits fourth in the group standings with five points, trailing leaders Ivory Coast (10 points). A strong performance in these matches is crucial to keep their qualification hopes alive.

Final 23-Man Squad

• Goalkeepers: Ian Otieno, Brian Bwire, Faruk Shikhalo
• Defenders: Jonstone Omurwa, Brian Mandela, Daniel Anyembe, Amos Nondi, Erick Ouma, Manzur Okwaro, Ronny Onyango
• Midfielders: Anthony Akumu, Richard Odada, Ismael Gonzalez, Timothy Ouma, Eric Johana, Duke Abuya, Mohammed Bajaber, Ben Stanley Omondi
• Forwards: Masud Juma, Jonah Ayunga, Elvis Rupia, John Avire, Michael Olunga

McCarthy expressed excitement about leading his first two World Cup qualifiers, stating:

“I’m eager to work with this talented squad. There’s plenty of hard work ahead, but we’re ready to embrace the challenge as a team.”