Harambee Stars 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers Squad Announcement arrived with a clarity of purpose, and with it a conversation that stretches beyond a simple list of names. Benni McCarthy has doubled down on the spirit that captivated the nation at CHAN 2024, while making hard calls that reveal the pressure and promise of a September window that could define Kenya’s qualifying narrative.
Continuity from CHAN and a bold message to the locker room
The South African tactician has retained 13 players from the impressive CHAN campaign, a signal that performances in pressure moments still matter. Kenya’s run ended against Madagascar in the quarterfinals, yet the group that topped the so-called Group of Death earned trust, and that trust now carries into the World Cup qualifiers against The Gambia and Seychelles.
There is realism too. Kenya sit fourth in Group F, six points on the board, and trail leaders Ivory Coast by a daunting 10 points. The task, as one report framed it, needs a miracle, but the plan is clear, bank on chemistry, inject targeted quality from abroad, and fight for six points at Kasarani.
The headline omissions and the stories behind them
Austin Odhiambo, Gor Mahia’s creative heartbeat at CHAN where he scored two goals, is the name that sparks the loudest debate. He was overlooked for the quarterfinal against Madagascar, then left out of this squad, and McCarthy has offered no public explanation for the decision. It is a footballing mystery that lingers, because, in a tight qualifier window, creativity is currency.
Erick ‘Marcelo’ Ouma’s absence is painful for more concrete reasons. The dependable left back has suffered a torn Achilles tendon, as confirmed by his club Rakow Czestochowa, and is set for surgery. On Instagram, McCarthy responded to fans’ concerns succinctly, “Injured. Achilles tendon operation,” a stark reminder of the human cost behind a team sheet.
Mohammed Bajaber is also out, though his path back is brighter. When asked by a fan where Bajaber was, McCarthy replied, “Still recovering from injury.” The new Simba SC forward had withdrawn from CHAN with a knock, then featured in pre-season. Caution, it seems, has guided this call.
There are other notable absentees. Daniel Anyembe, a regular at right back, is omitted with McCarthy set to rely on Ronney Onyango and CHAN standout Lewis Bandi. Ian Otieno, trusted early in McCarthy’s tenure, misses out as his club form has dipped. St Mirren striker Jonah Ayunga yields to the momentum of Ryan Ogam, and last season’s FKF Premier League top scorer Moses Shumah, who departed the CHAN camp to sign in Zambia, is not involved.
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Eight foreign based players trusted to tilt the margins
McCarthy’s blend leans local, yet the foreign contingent is crucial. Eight players based abroad have been drafted in, each with a defined role in the blueprint for Kasarani.
- Collins Sichenje, fresh from regular minutes at FK Vojvodina, brings aerial strength and pace at center back, pushing the in-form pairing of Sylvester Owino and Michael Kibwage to an even higher standard.
- Ronney Onyango, now settled in Norway, offers overlapping thrust and precise delivery from the right, and will compete directly with Bandi for the starting shirt.
- Timothy Ouma, on loan at Lech Poznan, is a creative option between the lines, part of a trio with Duke Abuya and Ben Stanley tasked with unlocking low blocks.
- Richard Odada has battled for minutes in Scotland, yet his passing range still positions him to contest the deep role with Alpha Onyango and Marvin Nabwire.
- William Lenkupae, scorer on his national debut against Gambia, provides late box entries and versatile forward play that suits tight qualifiers.
- Job Ochieng, Real Sociedad B livewire, earns a maiden senior call-up at 22 and has already struck once this Segunda Division season, a timely boost of confidence.
- Duke Abuya, thriving at Yanga, adds guile and the audacity to conjure moments from nothing, exactly what tight matches often require.
- Michael Olunga, the captain, divides opinion at times for missed chances, yet remains integral for his presence, hold-up play, and the gravity he creates around the penalty area.
A debut to watch, Job Ochieng’s rise
There is a romance to a first call-up. Ochieng’s story is built on versatility and timing, the Real Sociedad B man has featured across the front three, as a number 10, and even filled in at left back. His eye for goal, one in two league outings this term, and his tactical flexibility give McCarthy valuable options in-game.
For a team chasing momentum, a breakthrough performance can become a spark. If a tight match at Kasarani begins to drift, Ochieng’s directness could be the jolt that lifts the noise and shifts the psychology of the contest.
Midfield engines and defensive anchors
Behind the splashier headlines sits the platform. Manzur Okwaro has impressed McCarthy with industry and discipline, while Alpha Onyango’s poise and Nabwire’s dynamism give the midfield balance. The creative cohort of Ouma, Abuya, and Ben Stanley will compete to provide the final ball that turns territory into goals.
At the back, Owino and Kibwage emerged from CHAN with enhanced reputations. Add Sichenje’s physical edge, Onyango’s athletic width, Abud Omar’s experience, and Bandi’s convincing audition, and the defensive unit has the feel of cohesion. Goalkeeping competition remains healthy with Faruk Shikhalo, Byrne Omondi, and Brian Bwire all included.
What this means for September at Kasarani
Two home matches, The Gambia on Friday 5 September at 4:00 pm, then Seychelles on Tuesday 9 September at 4:00 pm, it is as straightforward a brief as international football allows. Six points are non-negotiable if Kenya are to keep the door, even slightly ajar, in Group F.
McCarthy is still chasing a first World Cup qualifier win in charge. The continuity from CHAN suggests a plan built on familiarity, while the selective additions point to targeted solutions against opponents who will defend deep and counter. Set pieces, the captain’s hold-up play, and the pressing of the front line will be decisive.
The human pulse, a coach in conversation with fans
Something else stood out after the squad dropped. On social media, McCarthy engaged directly with supporters, answering questions about absentees on the Harambee Stars Instagram page. To one fan asking about Bajaber, he wrote, “Still recovering from injury.” On Ouma, he added the blunt reality of the Achilles operation. Many applauded the transparency, a small bridge between touchline decisions and the terraces.
That connection matters. In a qualifying campaign where the margins are thin, the unity of message from squad to stands becomes part of the performance. This is where narrative meets result, where belief can add an extra percentage point in the legs as minutes grow heavy.
Full 23 man Harambee Stars squad
Goalkeepers
- Faruk Shikhalo
- Brian Bwire
- Byrne Omondi
Defenders
- Sylvester Owino
- Alphonce Omija
- Collins Sichenje
- Michael Kibwage
- Ronney Onyango
- Abud Omar
- Lewis Bandi
Midfielders
- Richard Odada
- Alpha Onyango
- Duke Abuya
- Manzur Okwaro
- Timothy Ouma
- Ben Stanley
- Marvin Nabwire
Forwards
- Emmanuel Osoro
- William Lenkupae
- Job Ochieng
- Boniface Muchiri
- Michael Olunga
- Ryan Ogam
Final word
This squad announcement is more than names on paper. It is a bet on the chemistry that carried Kenya through CHAN’s intensity, a belief that targeted quality from abroad can elevate the collective, and a recognition that injuries and form will always test a manager’s resolve.
Kasarani will demand courage, patience, and a ruthless edge in both boxes. If the engine of Okwaro and Odada sets the tempo, if Ouma or Abuya find the pass, if Olunga or Lenkupae supply the finish, and if Ochieng adds a dash of debut electricity, then the story of this window can still be one of hope. Qualification remains a mountain, yet the climb begins with a step that now feels carefully, thoughtfully placed.
