- Michael Olunga’s absence explained as Harambee Stars prepare for Senegal & Equatorial Guinea friendlies in Turkey this month.
- Kenya face Equatorial Guinea on November 14 at Emir Complex before meeting Senegal four days later at Mardan Stadium.
- Coach Manousakis said Olunga and a few others were excused to recover after a busy club schedule.
Harambee Stars assistant coach Vasili Manousakis has moved to clarify the absence of captain Michael Olunga from the national team squad set to face Equatorial Guinea and Senegal in international friendly matches this month.
Harambee Stars will begin their friendly campaign against Equatorial Guinea on November 14 at the Emir Complex before locking horns with African giants Senegal four days later at the Mardan Stadium in Turkey.
Speaking to the media, Manousakis explained that Olunga, alongside a few other key players, was excused from the squad to allow proper recovery after a demanding run of fixtures at club level.
Michael Olunga’s absence explained
Some of them have niggles, injuries, and congestion of fixtures in their domestic leagues. So we gave some guys a little bit of time off, Collins Sichenje, and of course, Michael Olunga,” said the assistant coach.
That was the thinking, and when you look at those guys, we had to refresh the team, and we have certainly done it with a crop of youngsters,” he added.
The coach emphasized that the decision to rest the skipper was purely precautionary, noting that Olunga has been a regular starter for his Qatari side, Al Duhail SC.
The move was therefore aimed at preventing fatigue and ensuring he returns in top condition for future assignments.
Even as he sits out of the friendlies, Olunga remains in the headlines for his pursuit of a historic record.
The striker recently equalled Dennis Oliech’s 34 goals for the national team, placing him just one goal behind legendary forward William ‘Chege’ Ouma, who holds the all-time record with 35 goals , a record that has stood unbroken for 48 years.
In an interview during the last FIFA International break Captain Olunga had made it clear that he feels no pressure in chasing the record.
“The most important thing for me is to work hard and help the team in whichever way possible,” he said. “It’s not so much in my mind. It’s a good achievement, something any player would aspire to. Hopefully, one day, I’ll be able to become the all-time top scorer. But there’s still a lot of hard work to be done.”
The fresh faces stepping into Olunga’s shoes
In his absence, head coach Benni McCarthy has called up several attacking options, including Celta Vigo’s rising star Aldrine Kibet, Austria-based forward Ryan Ogam, Gor Mahia’s in-form winger Shariff Musa, and Nairobi United’s speedy winger Ovella Ochieng.
The quartet will be tasked with leading the Stars’ frontline against Equatorial Guinea and Senegal in Antalya, Turkey.
The upcoming matches will offer Kenya’s forwards a valuable opportunity to showcase their potential, as the technical bench looks to build depth and competition ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
Olunga’s short break appears to be a calculated decision one meant to ensure the captain returns fitter, sharper, and ready to continue inspiring the team both as a leader and as a striker closing in on a record that would cement his name in Kenyan football history.