Harambee Stars head coach Engin Firat has failed to name experienced goalkeeper Patrick Matasi in his squad that will face South Sudan in the 2024 African Nations Championships (CHAN) qualifiers.
The decision comes less than two weeks after Matasi made a costly mistake in the 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier match against Cameroon, where Kenya suffered a 4-1 defeat.
The Kenya Police FC custodian was largely to blame for the second and fourth goals in that one-sided encounter played in Yaounde.
His below-bar performance led to a lot of debate particularly on social media platforms with many fans asking Firat to axe him from the national team.
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The Turkish manager appears to have heard their cries by failing to name Matasi in his final squad for the upcoming CHAN qualifier against South Sudan.
Firat has instead given highly-rated Rising Stars goalkeeper Ibrahim Wanzala a call-up to the national team.
Wanzala is fresh from the U20 AFCON qualifiers where he helped Rising Stars to qualify for the continental tournament for the first time ever.
Wanzala, who plays for Kakamega Homeboyz, won the Golden Glove award in the event which was staged in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
The shot stopper also won the Golden Glove in the CECAFA U18 tournament held in 2023.
Besides Wanzala, some of the other youngsters who have made it to Firat’s squad include Andreas Odhiambo (Kariobangi Sharks), Mathew Tegisi (Shabana) and Mathias Isogol.
Harambee Stars are scheduled to play South Sudan in Juba on October 27 before hosting them in the second leg at Uganda’s Mandela National Stadium on November 3.
Should Kenya overcome South Sudan in the two-legged fixture, they will play either Rwanda or Djibouti in the final phase slated for December.
However, if South Sudan triumph, Harambee Stars are still expected to play in the upcoming CHAN tournament since Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania have already secured automatic qualifications by virtue of being the hosts.
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Harambee Stars final squad
Goalkeepers
Farouk Shikalo, Bryne Odhiambo, Ibrahim Wanzala
Defenders
Sylvester Owino, Brian Eshihanda, Musa Mohammed, Geoffrey Ochieng, Alphonce Omija, Daniel Sakari, Bernard Ondiek
Midfielders
Marvin Nabwire, Issa Lumumba, Kenneth Muguna, Boniface Muchiri, Andreas Odhiambo, Rooney Onyango, Austine Odhiambo, Chrispine Erambo, Matthias Isogol, Vincent Owino
Forwards
Sydney Lokale, Victor Omune, Patrick Otieno, Mathew Tegisi
