As the crisp anticipation of international football gathers in the air, Harambee Stars preparation for Chad friendlies is more than just another set of matches on the calendar—it’s the birth of a new era shaped by bold choices, both on and off the pitch. Beneath the surface of squad lists and travel plans, this moment for Kenya’s national team is as much about healing wounds of the past as it is forging a future that aspires to make the country a powerhouse in African football once more.
Benni McCarthy’s vision and the changing face of the squad
Taking up the challenge with characteristic fire, head coach Benni McCarthy has left little doubt that these friendlies mean business. Announcing a 24-man squad to travel to Morocco for the back-to-back fixtures against Chad on June 7 and 10, McCarthy made it clear the weeks ahead are crucial. The matches are not simply an exercise in match fitness—they are the building blocks for the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), a tournament Kenya is co-hosting with Uganda and Tanzania come August, and, perhaps less visibly, a dress rehearsal for creating a formidable team for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
“Everyone looks very enthusiastic and in good spirits, so I hope we’re going to have a good week,” McCarthy told FKF Media. “These two friendly matches are mainly to help players build some match fitness and get us going as we prepare for CHAN.”
The stakes are unmistakable—not just results, but long-term development. McCarthy’s choices reflect a balance: blending experienced internationals, locally-based rising stars, and, notably, the strategic inclusion of Kenyan players who ply their trade abroad. This spirit of openness, of testing and learning, is essential for a team seeking to rediscover its place on the continental stage.
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Why Adam Wilson and other foreign-based players matter
One of McCarthy’s most discussed decisions was recalling Adam Wilson, the former Newcastle United youth product now making headlines at The New Saints in Wales while on loan from Bradford City. Wilson, who notched nine league goals in 26 appearances and has UEFA Europa Conference League experience, fits the mold of a player both on form and untested in the Kenyan shirt—a curious blend that excites and challenges.
“Adam Wilson is someone I didn’t have the luxury of getting a look at previously,” said McCarthy. “But he’s been doing absolutely brilliant for his club, and this is a good opportunity for me to see how he performs with the national team.”
Wilson joins a select handful of internationally based players, including William Lenkupae and Brian Mandela. Each brings a different narrative—Lenkupae, for instance, scored on his international debut last March, while Mandela’s experience in South Africa’s top flight is viewed as invaluable guidance for younger teammates. McCarthy’s philosophy is clear: exposure and experience abroad are not mere footnotes, but foundational elements as Kenya seeks to build a squad with both character and tactical diversity.
Not every name makes the list: The squad’s delicate balance
Squad selection is never without controversy. The omission of promising U20 talents who recently starred for the Rising Stars raised eyebrows. Yet McCarthy’s explanation underscores his commitment to thoughtful player management.
“The U20s just got back from a three-week camp and a tough tournament where they played three hard matches. As young as they are, they also need a break,” he explained. For all the ambition, there is wisdom in knowing when to rest potential future stars, not simply showcase them at every opportunity.
Midfielder Kevin Otieno and defender Martin Owiti also missed the final cut, evidence of a coach evaluating strictly on current form, fitness, and overall team needs. For every disappointment, there’s an opportunity for another player—this time, Gor Mahia’s Austin Odhiambo—whose national team recall follows Victor Wanyama’s withdrawal due to personal commitments. Odhiambo represents more than a replacement; he’s a sign of Kenya’s deepening pool of local talent and the evolving nature of squad composition.
The enduring legacy and complicated return of Victor Wanyama
No narrative around the Harambee Stars can ignore the shadow of Victor Wanyama, once the nation’s footballing hero and longtime leader. Wanyama’s brief recall to the provisional squad, after having retired in 2021, stirred debate and pointed to the emotional undercurrents that flow within Kenyan football.
Ultimately, due to personal commitments in the UK, Wanyama excused himself from the Chad friendlies. FKF Vice President McDonald Mariga, Wanyama’s own brother, offered a candid reflection: “For a player, you tend to think fans do not give you respect. In other countries, if someone retires, you retire honourably, you have a retirement match, but you know here, it feels like people do not appreciate you.”
There is poignancy in these words, a reminder that athletes’ journeys are marked not only by titles and trophies, but by the emotional ups and downs of community, expectation, and appreciation. Kenya’s only AFCON appearance this millennium came with Wanyama as captain; since his exit, the tournament has remained elusive. Yet, even as the torch passes, echoes of what Wanyama brought to the team remain vital to the sense of identity that McCarthy now seeks to revive and expand.
Chad’s ambitions and the challenge ahead
Standing across from Kenya will be a Chad side that is not approaching the friendlies as mere formalities. Head coach Tahir Gardia has named a 25-man squad, captained by Indonesia-based striker Ezechiel N’Douasse. Blending home-based players with a smattering of talent scattered across Africa, Europe, and Asia, Chad’s squad is no stranger to adversity or ambition.
Key to Chad’s prospects will be the leadership and goalscoring ability of N’Douasse, while the midfield gets a continental boost with Mahamat Thiam Maintah of Spanish club CD Castuera and Sindou Yeo, now in Morocco’s top flight. Their defense, led by France-based Ahmad Ngouyamsa, and a selection of local stalwarts, promise a stern test for the Harambee Stars. For both nations, these games are critical rehearsals ahead of CHAN 2024, with reputations and dreams on the line.
Full Harambee Stars squad and what to watch for
- Goalkeepers – Brian Bwire, Faruk Shikalo, Sepstianos Wekesa,
- Defenders – Brian Mandela, Alphonce Omija, Sylvester Owino, Siraj Mohammed, Abud Omar, Daniel Sakari, Swaleh Pamba, Lewis Bandi,
- Midfielders – Brian Musa, Alpha Onyango, Austine Odhiambo, Ben Stanley Omondi, Boniface Muchiri, Mohammed Bajaber, William Lenkupae, Adam Wilson, James Kinyanjui, David Sakwa,
- Forwards – Beja Nyamawi, Moses Shumah, Emmanuel Osoro.
It’s a roster that embodies McCarthy’s intent: strong leadership, breadth of domestic league talent, and the injection of international experience in key positions. The matches themselves will offer keen observers a window into selection battles, tactical growth, and potentially, the emergence of new fan favorites whose journey has only just begun.
The emotional heart of Harambee Stars transformation
Football, after all, is always as much about emotion as execution. For every tactical tweak McCarthy makes, there is a story of resilience, hope, and the weight of national expectation. Some fans, frustrated by selections, have made their opinions loudly known, while others urge patience, trusting that experience and method may yield the stability the team so desperately craves.
What is certain is that Harambee Stars preparation for Chad friendlies marks a foundational moment—testing new blood, redefining roles, and, above all, seeking unity in pursuit of glory. Whether these matches in Morocco yield results or lessons, they will have succeeded if they help restore belief: in the coach’s vision, in the squad’s potential, and in the nation’s football story being written with every pass, tackle, and goal.
