By Brian Magiri
New AFC Leopards forward Sydney Lokale is set to fight for a place in the final Harambee Stars travelling squad that is expected to face Cameroon in back-to-back 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers set for 11 and 14 October respectively.
This is after the lanky striker received a provisional call up to the national team as announced by Ingwe on their official social media platforms.
“Congratulations to our striker, Sydney Lokale, who has earned a call-up to the national team, Harambee Stars, for the upcoming AFCON 2025 qualifiers against Cameroon which will be played in Cameroon and Uganda. From AFC Leopards, we wish you the best,” Leopards posted.
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Lokale, who joined the club at the start of the 24/25 campaign, earned the call up after bagging two goals in the opening four fixtures of the season.
He opened his goal account for the 12-time Kenya Premier League champions during the first game of the season against Mathare United where Ingwe won 4-0.
The 23-year-old center forward also helped Ingwe secure three points against Bidco United as he scored the solitary match winning goal at Thika Stadium.
Formerly with Kariobangi Sharks, KCB, and DR Congo side St Eloi Lupopo, Lokale disclosed why he preferred to join Ingwe despite receiving offers from Oman, Algeria, and Finland.
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In an interview with SportsEye, the foward revealed why he made the decision to sign at the den after his contract with Eloi ended.
“I knew my contract was coming to an end. I had plans, and I thought if I was going to come back home, this was one of the teams I would want to join,” he said.
“I had some foreign clubs interested from Oman, Finland and an Algerian team that wanted my services, but I had to join AFC Leopards for personal reasons,” he added.
Lokale will face stiff competition from other Harambee Stars strikers, especially from captain Michael Olunga, John Avire and Jonah Ayunga who are ahead in the pecking order.
Lokale has represented Kenya in the U20 and U23 teams and scored for Kenya in the Africa U20 Cup of Nations qualifier against Rwanda on 1 April 2017 before representing the Kenya U23 side against Mauritius in November 2018.
Harambee Stars head coach Engin Firat is set to unveil the full provisional squad on Tuesday afternoon.
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Applicants are urged to submit their applications through www.tujiamini.co.ke