Gor Mahia and Kenya Police FC have dominated the contingent of local players in the provisional Harambee Stars squad named by coach Benni McCarthy for the upcoming 2026 World Qualifier back-to-back ties against Gabon and Gambia.

Gor Mahia has seven players in the squad, the bulk of any individual club with league leaders Police also claiming a number in the squad.

Austine Odhiambo leads the heavy K’Ogalo squad with Alphonje Omija, Ben Stanley Omondi and Ronney Onyango also included.

The law enforcers have four players while AFC Leopards has Lewis Bandi and Kelly Okonji Madada as the only ones to make the cut.

Australian-born midfielder William Lenkupae has earned his maiden call-up to the Harambee Stars. Others who will be angling to make the final squad include KCB new boy Matthiew Isogol, Ingwe’s Madada Kelly and Lewis Bandi, Musa Katibi and Mohammed Bajaber who recently joined the Police FC ranks.

Meanwhile, a couple of experienced players return to the national team fold.

South African-based defender Brian Mandela and former La Liga star Ismael Gonzalez are among the former internationals making a return.
The pair was part of the Harambee Stars AFCON squad in 2019 and set to bring the needed experience to the team.

The World Cup qualifying matches against the Gambia away on Monday, March 17, 2025, will be coach Benni McCarthy’s first assignment as the Kenyan national team coach.

He will follow it up with a home game against Gabon a week later on March 24, 2025.

Kenya is lying fourth in Group F with five points, five less than leaders Ivory Coast, while Gabon is second with nine points and Burundi third with seven points.

Goalkeepers

Brian Opondo (Tusker FC), Faruk Shikhalo (Bandari FC), Ian Otieno (Richards Bay), Brian Bwire (Polokwane City)

Defenders

Sylvester Owino (Gor Mahia), Ronney Onyango (Gor Mahia), Alphonce Omija (Gor Mahia), Siraj Mohamed (Bandari FC), Daniel Sakari (Kenya Police FC), Levis Esambe (AFC Leopards SC), Eric Ouma (Rakow Czestochowa), Johnstone Omurwa (Kapaz fc), Joseph Okumu (Stade Reims), Collins Sichenje (FK Vojvodina), Daniel Anyembe (Viborg FF), Brian Mandela (Stellenbosch), Amos Nondi (Ararat)

Midfielders

Musa Katibi (Kenya Police FC), Chris Erambo (Tusker FC), Austine Odhiambo (Gor Mahia), Lawrence Juma (Gor Mahia), Kelly Madada (AFC Leopards SC), Ben Stanley (Gor Mahia), Mathias Isogoli (Mara Sugar FC), Andreas Odhiambo (Kariobangi Sharks), Alpha Onyango (Gor Mahia), Richard Odada (Dundee United), Duke Abuya (Yanga), Timothy Ouma (Slavia Prague), Apollo Otieno (Dodoma Jiji), Amos Nondi (FC Ararat), Eric Johanna (UTA Arad), Anthony Akumu (Kheybar Khorramabad), Ismail Gonzalez (Merida AD), William Lenkupae (Central Coast Mariners)

Forwards

Boniface Muchiri (Ulinzi Stars), James Kinyanjui (KCB FC), Alvin Mang’eni (Kenya Police FC), Mohamed Bajaber (Kenya Police FC), Eric Balecho (Tusker FC), Ryan Ogam (Tusker FC), Moses Shumah (Kakamega Homeboyz), Edward Omondi (Sofapaka FC), Elvis Rupia (Singida Blackstars), John Avire (Porto Suez), Jonah Ayunga (St Mirren), Michael Olunga (Al – Duhail), Mathew Tegisi (Pamba Jiji), Masud Juma (Esteghlal FC)