- Harambee Stars will play Gambia and Gabon in the upcoming international break.
- The match between Harambee Stars and Gambia will be played in Ivory Coast on March 20.
- The fixture against Gabon is scheduled for March 23 at the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi.
The recently appointed Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy has named a strong provisional squad for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Harambee Stars, who sit fourth at the moment in the group that also has the reigning African Cup of Nations (AFCON) champions Ivory Coast, Burundi and Seychelles, are scheduled to play against Gambia on March 20 before squaring it out with Gabon on March 23.
The fixture against Gambia will be played at the Stade Allasane Ouattara in Ivory Coast while Gabon is expected to travel to Nairobi for the next tie.
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McCarthy has included a couple of youngsters in the squad including the highly rated AFC Leopards midfielder Kelly Madada and Andreas Odhiambo.
Odhiambo and Madada were part of the Rising Stars team that finished second in the 2025 CECAFA U20 AFCON qualifiers that was held in Tanzanian a few months ago.
Besides the youngsters, McCarthy has also given Australian-born attacker William Wilson Lenkupae his maiden Harambee Stars call up.
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The 23-year-old, who plays for Central Coast Mariners in Australia, is expected to improve the Kenyan midfield where the likes of Richard Odada, Duke Abuya, Anthony Akumu and Tusker FC sensation Chris Erambo have also received call ups.
Some of the forwards that the South African tactician has named in his provisional squad are Michael Ogada Olunga, Ryan Ogam, Masud Juma and Elvis Rupia.
McCarthy has revealed that he will use this international window to also pinpoint some of the players that can don the Harambee Stars jersey in the highly anticipated African Nations Championship (CHAN) tournament that is planned to start in August.
“Wednesday will be my first camp with local-based players to assess the quality for the upcoming CHAN and identify potential additions for the world cup qualifiers against Gambia and Gabon,” he was quoted by the Football Kenya Federation website.
Gor Mahia dominate Harambee Stars squad
Defending league champions Gor Mahia have had seven of their players called up to the squad. They include Ronney Onyango, Sylvester Owino, Alphonse Omija, Ben Stanley, Alpha Onyango, Lawrence Juma and Austine Odhiambo.
Harambee Stars provisional squad for 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers
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).
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