Harambee Stars head coach Engin Firat has named a stellar 24-member squad to face Qatar and South Sudan in international friendlies slated for September.
Stars will take on Qatar in Doha on September 7 before hosting South Sudan in Nairobi on September 12.
The Turkish gaffer said he will be using the matches to spruce up his charges ahead of future World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The players are expected to report to camp on Sunday.
“We are preparing for both the Africa Cup of Nations as well as the World Cup qualifiers and I believe the two friendlies will be vital in helping us to identify the right people for the enormous task ahead,” Firat said.
Conspicuously absent from the squad are several locally-based stars who flew the country’s flag in Mauritius during the four-nation international tournament in June, including Kakamega Homeboyz centre-back Robinson Kamura.
“You may have already noticed that we have sidelined several players who were involved in our friendly matches against Pakistan and Mauritius about two months ago,” said Firat.
“As I indicated earlier, we have a large pool of players to draw from and we shall be giving everyone a chance to prove his worth.”
Kenya Police provide the bulk of players in the squad, with seasoned custodian Patrick Matasi, centre-back David ‘Cheche’ Ochieng, midfielder Kenneth Muguna, forward Abud Omar, and last season’s KPL top scorer Elvis Rupia making the list.
Other locally-based players in the star-studded lineup include KCB goalkeeper Bryne Odhiambo, Kakamega Homeboyz striker Moses Shummah, and Bandari offensive midfielder Abdalla Hassan.
Firat has recalled stopper Joseph Okumu who sat out of the two friendlies against Pakistan and Mauritius after sustaining an injury in training.
Also returning are Brian Mandela, who plays in the South African top-flight for Mamelodi Sundowns, as well as Johnstone Omurwa, who recently moved to Estrela in the Portuguese league.
Fleet-footed winger Ayub Timbe has been considered for duty after being spurned for several years. Harambee Stars have been pooled in Group F of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers following the draw held in Abidjan, Ivory Coast on July 14.
Kenya will flex muscles with Ivory Coast, Gambia, Gabon, Burundi, and Sychelles for a slot in the premier quadrennial global showpiece.
The teams have been divided into nine groups of six with one winner from each securing a direct ticket to the World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the USA.
The best four group runners-ups will enter the playoffs where the winning team will qualify for an inter-confederation tournament in March 2026.
FULL SQUAD: Goalkeepers: Ian Otieno (Zesco, Zambia), Bryne Odhiambo (KCB), and Patrick Matasi (Police); Defenders: Collins Shichenje (AIK, Sweden), Joseph Okumu (Stade Reims, France), Brian Mandela (Sundowns, South Africa), Johnstone Omurwa (Estrela, Portugal), David Ochieng (Police), Daniel Anyembe (Viborg, Denmark), Eric Ouma (AIK, Sweden), Amos Nondi (Ararat, Armenia), Abud Omar (Police); Midfielders: Richard Odada (Philadelphia Union, USA), Teddy Akumu (Sagan Tosu, Japan), Kenneth Muguna (Police), Timothy Ouma (IF Elfsborg, Sweden), Duke Abuya (Singida Fountain Gate, Tanzania), Abdallah Hasan (Bandari), Ayub Masika (Nanjing City Football Club, China), Alfred Scriven (IL Hødd, Norway); Forwards: Moses Shummah (Homeboyz), Elvis Rupia (Police), Michael Olunga (Al Duhail, Qatar), Masud Juma (Al-Jabalain FC, Saudi Arabia).
