- William Wilson Lenkupae has previously played for Australian side Melbourne Victory.
- He can play in a number of positions.
- Lenkupae is a citizen of both England and Australia.
Australian based midfielder William Wilson Lenkupae is the name on the lips of many Kenyan football fans at the moment.
Lenkupae is among the players who have been included in Harambee Stars provisional squad for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Gambia and Gabon. The call-up is a special one for him since it is the first one of his career.
The 23-year-old’s call up has led to a lot of excitement particularly on social media platforms. What potential will Lenkupae unleash? Is he the central midfielder that Harambee Stars need?
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Those questions will be answered on the pitch in the near future by the highly rated player, who is already making a name for himself in Australia.
SportPesa Blog takes a brief look at who exactly is William Wilson Lenkupae.
Who is William Wilson Lenkupae?
Lenkupae was born in London, England on December 23, 2001. The talented midfielder moved to Australia at a young age where he enrolled at Melbourne Victory Youth’s team.
The player who was also eligible to play for England and Australia later graduated to Melbourne Victory’s senior team.
Lenkupae made his senior debut for Melbourne Victory on November 24, 2021 in a FFA Cup clash against Perth Glory before featuring for the side in a league match in February 2022.
He went on to sign for his current club Central Coast Mariners in August 2023 where has made five appearances this season.
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His most recent A-League appearance came in January 2025 in a match where Central Coast Mariners suffered a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Sydney FC.
Besides playing as a central midfielder, Lenkupae can also operate as a left winger or attacking midfielder.
His current value according to the Transfer Market website stands at €150,000 (approximately Ksh 21, 232,500).
Achievements
Lenkupae won the 2023-2024 A-League and 2023-2024 AFC Cup with Central Coast Mariners.
Huge task head
Should Lenkupae made it to Benni McCarthy’s final squad that will play the two matches in this international break, he will have a big role to play.
Harambee Stars is scheduled to lock horns with Gambia in the first match that will be played in Ivory Coast on March 20 before squaring it out with Gabon on March 23 in Nairobi.
The Kenyan side currently occupies the fourth position in the Group F log behind Ivory Coast, Gabon, and Burundi.
Harambee Stars provisional squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Gambia and Gabon
Goalkeepers
Faruk Shikhalo (Bandari FC), Brian Bwire (Polokwane City), Brian Opondo (Tusker FC), Ian Otieno (Richards Bay).
Defenders
Sylvester Owino (Gor Mahia), Brian Mandela (Stellenbosch), Ronney Onyango (Gor Mahia), Alphonce Omija (Gor Mahia), Siraj Mohamed (Bandari FC), Daniel Sakari (Kenya Police FC), Levis Esambe (AFC Leopards SC), Amos Nondi (Ararat), Eric Ouma (Rakow Czestochowa), Johnstone Omurwa (Kapaz fc), Joseph Okumu (Stade Reims), Collins Sichenje (FK Vojvodina), Daniel Anyembe (Viborg FF).
Midfielders
Ismail Gonzalez (Merida AD), Anthony Akumu (Kheybar Khorramabad), Lawrence Juma (Gor Mahia), Kelly Madada (AFC Leopards SC), Ben Stanley (Gor Mahia), Mathias Isogoli (Mara Sugar FC), Andreas Odhiambo (Kariobangi Sharks), Alpha Onyango (Gor Mahia), Eric Johanna (UTA Arad), Richard Odada (Dundee United), Musa Katibi (Kenya Police FC), Chris Erambo (Tusker FC), Austine Odhiambo (Gor Mahia), Duke Abuya (Yanga), Timothy Ouma (Slavia Prague), Apollo Otieno (Dodoma Jiji), Amos Nondi (FC Ararat), William Lenkupae (Central Coast Mariners).
Forwards
Jonah Ayunga (St Mirren), Michael Olunga (Al – Duhail),Mohamed Bajaber (Kenya Police FC), Eric Balecho (Tusker FC), Ryan Ogam (Tusker FC), Moses Shumah (Kakamega Homeboyz), Boniface Muchiri (Ulinzi Stars), James Kinyanjui (KCB FC), Alvin Mang’eni (Kenya Police FC), Edward Omondi (Sofapaka FC), Elvis Rupia (Singida Blackstars), John Avire (Porto Suez), Masud Juma (Esteghlal FC), Mathew Tegisi (Pamba Jiji).