Harambee Stars in action against Sudan at the 2011 LG Cup (file). Photo: Flickr user via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
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Olunga, Okumu back as McCarthy names 38-man Harambee Stars squad.
Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy has named a 38-man provisional squad for Kenya's opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, with captain Michael Olunga and defender Joseph Okumu both back after long injury lay-offs.
Kenya host Eritrea at Nyayo National Stadium on 26 September, then travel to face Guinea at Stade du 28 Septembre in Conakry on 1 October. Kenya are in Group D with South Africa, Guinea and Eritrea. As co-hosts of AFCON 2027 with Uganda and Tanzania, Kenya have already qualified, so the matches are competitive preparation for the tournament.
Who is in
Olunga, 32, of Al Arabi in Qatar, returns for the first time since the World Cup qualifiers in October 2025, having undergone pelvic surgery. He has 34 goals in 69 caps and scored on his club return in a 1-1 draw with Al Duhail. Okumu, of Stade de Reims, is back after six months out with a knee ligament injury.
There are three debutants: Kevin Wangaya of Nairobi United, who was in the Best XI at the 2025 U-20 AFCON group stage; Louis Millard of Swindon Town; and Javan Ochieng of Hickory FC. Celta Vigo's Aldrine Kibet and Job Ochieng', who recently made his La Liga debut, are also included.
The squad has five goalkeepers – Byrne Omondi, Faruk Shikhalo, Ian Otieno, Brian Bwire and Caleb Kramer – 12 defenders, 10 midfielders and 11 attackers. Other forwards named include Ryan Ogam, Mohammed Bajaber, Lawrence Okoth, Sharif Musa, Ben Stanley, Adam Wilson and Micah Obiero.
Sources: Capital FM; The Standard; K24
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Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy has named a 38-man provisional squad for Kenya’s opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, with captain Michael Olunga and defender Joseph Okumu both back after long injury lay-offs.
Kenya host Eritrea at Nyayo National Stadium on 26 September, then travel to face Guinea at Stade du 28 Septembre in Conakry on 1 October. Kenya are in Group D with South Africa, Guinea and Eritrea. As co-hosts of AFCON 2027 with Uganda and Tanzania, Kenya have already qualified, so the matches are competitive preparation for the tournament.
Who is in
Olunga, 32, of Al Arabi in Qatar, returns for the first time since the World Cup qualifiers in October 2025, having undergone pelvic surgery. He has 34 goals in 69 caps and scored on his club return in a 1-1 draw with Al Duhail. Okumu, of Stade de Reims, is back after six months out with a knee ligament injury.
There are three debutants: Kevin Wangaya of Nairobi United, who was in the Best XI at the 2025 U-20 AFCON group stage; Louis Millard of Swindon Town; and Javan Ochieng of Hickory FC. Celta Vigo’s Aldrine Kibet and Job Ochieng’, who recently made his La Liga debut, are also included.
The squad has five goalkeepers — Byrne Omondi, Faruk Shikhalo, Ian Otieno, Brian Bwire and Caleb Kramer — 12 defenders, 10 midfielders and 11 attackers. Other forwards named include Ryan Ogam, Mohammed Bajaber, Lawrence Okoth, Sharif Musa, Ben Stanley, Adam Wilson and Micah Obiero.
KNN Newsroom is the staff byline for stories written, rewritten and edited at the Kibra News Network desk. Where a story credits an outside outlet, the original source is linked at the foot of the piece.
