Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy has named his final 24-man squad for Kenya’s opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Eritrea and Guinea, with captain Michael Olunga returning to lead an attack that also includes a number of emerging foreign-based players.
The squad, released on 16 September, features a blend of locally based players and Kenyans playing abroad, with Gor Mahia providing the largest contingent.
Olunga’s return is one of the major talking points after the Al-Arabi striker missed several months through injury. He is now back in the national team as Kenya prepares for its first competitive assignments under McCarthy in the new qualification cycle.
The veteran striker is also one goal away from equalling William Ouma’s 35-goal record as Kenya’s all-time leading scorer, according to Citizen Digital.
Young foreign-based players included
McCarthy has retained a strong emphasis on players developing outside Kenya.
Among the notable selections are Real Sociedad forward Job Ochieng, Valencia defender Amos Wanjala, Stade Reims midfielder Manzur Okwaro, Exeter City defender Vincent Harper, Carlisle United forward Micah Obiero, Charlton Athletic midfielder Timothy Ouma and RFC Lüttich forward Ryan Ogam.
The selection represents a continuation of McCarthy’s efforts to expand the national-team pool, with several players earning their opportunities after featuring in European development systems. Citizen Digital identified Ochieng, Wanjala and Okwaro among the players attracting particular attention in the squad.
Locally, Byrne Omondi of Gor Mahia, Faruk Shikhalo of Nairobi United and Brian Bwire of Tusker FC make up the goalkeeping department.
The defence comprises Michael Kibwage, Rooney Onyango, Hannif Wesonga, Stanley Wilson, Abud Omar, Amos Wanjala, Frank Odhiambo and Vincent Harper.
McCarthy’s midfield options are Manzur Okwaro, Timothy Ouma, Chris Erambo, Duke Abuya and Marvin Nabwire.
Up front, Olunga is joined by Sharif Musa, Mohammed Bajaber, Ben Stanley, Job Ochieng, Javan Ochieng, Micah Obiero and Ryan Ogam.
Eritrea first, Guinea next
Kenya will begin the campaign against Eritrea at Nyayo National Stadium on 26 September, before travelling to Conakry for a meeting with Guinea on October 1.
The fixtures come with an unusual context for Kenya. As one of the three hosts of the 2027 AFCON alongside Uganda and Tanzania, Kenya already has a place at the finals. The qualifiers therefore provide McCarthy with competitive matches to assess his squad and build towards the tournament.
Kenya is in Group D alongside South Africa, Guinea and Eritrea.
The final selection also marks a significant reduction from the 38-man provisional squad McCarthy announced earlier in September. Players including Joseph Okumu, Daniel Anyembe, Deon Woodman, Ian Otieno and several other provisional call-ups did not make the final list.
For McCarthy, the two matches will offer an opportunity to further shape a squad combining established internationals such as Olunga with a younger group increasingly gaining experience in overseas leagues.
Harambee Stars final squad
Goalkeepers
- Byrne Omondi — Gor Mahia
- Faruk Shikhalo — Nairobi United
- Brian Bwire — Tusker FC
Defenders
- Michael Kibwage — Gor Mahia
- Rooney Onyango — Sogndal
- Hannif Wesonga — Jamus FC
- Stanley Wilson — AIK
- Abud Omar — Tusker FC
- Amos Wanjala — Valencia
- Frank Odhiambo — Gor Mahia
- Vincent Harper — Exeter City
Midfielders
- Manzur Okwaro — Stade Reims
- Timothy Ouma — Charlton Athletic
- Chris Erambo — Tusker FC
- Duke Abuya — Yanga SC
- Marvin Nabwire — Power Dynamos
Forwards
- Sharif Musa — Gor Mahia
- Mohammed Bajaber — Unattached
- Ben Stanley — Gor Mahia
- Job Ochieng — Real Sociedad
- Javan Ochieng — Hickory FC
- Micah Obiero — Carlisle United
- Ryan Ogam — RFC Lüttich
- Michael Olunga — Al-Arabi
