KPL stars culled from Harambee Stars team to face Gambia
By Luke Oluoch, March 17, 2025Only a quartet of the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) players have been included in the Harambee Stars’ final squad for the 2026 World Cup qualifier clash against Gambia on Thursday, March 20, 2025.
Coach Benni McCarthy has handed nods to KCB defender Manzur Okwaro, Mohammed Bajaber of Police FC, Farouk Shikalo and Gor Mahia new-boy Ben Stanley Omondi.
The four are the only local-based ones in the final 23-man squad with the foreign based professional dominating the team.
Okwaro who joined KCB from Rainbow FC has been a revelation in the KPL with impressive performances having made a similar feat with the Kenya U20 team.
Meanwhile, the budding defender is joined by Ben Omondi who joined Gor Mahia in the midseason transfer from Kakamega Homeboyz.
Bajaber in
Bajaber who notched a brace in his last league game in the KPL for Police FC has also caught the eye of the former Man United trainer.
Skipper Michael Olunga will lead the attacking line along with Masud Juma who has aprevoius tint with McCarthy in South Africa.
Brian Mandela and Ismael Gonzalez add to the list of experienced contingent in the Kenyan team with AFCON experience.
The national team will first face Gambia on Thursday, March 20, 2025, at Stade Allasane Ouattara in Ivory Coast. Following this match, they will return home to take on Gabon at Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi on Sunday, March 23, 2025, with kickoff scheduled for 4 PM.
Kenya currently sits fourth in the group standings with 5 points, having secured one win against Seychelles and two draws against Ivory Coast and Burundi. Group leaders Ivory Coast top the standings with 10 points.
The team is set to depart from Nairobi on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, according to the Football Kenya Federation portal.
Traveling Squad
Goalkeepers: Ian Otieno, Brian Bwire, Faruk Shikhalo.
Defenders: Jonestone Omurwa, Brian Mandela,Daniel Anyembe, Amos Nondi, Erick Ouma, Manzur Okwaro, Ronny Onyango
Midfielders: Anthony Akumu, Richard Odada, Ismael Gonzalez, Timothy Ouma, Eric Johana, Duke Abuya, Mohammed Bajaber, Ben Stanley Omondi
Forwards: Masud Juma, Jonah Ayunga, Elvis Rupia, John Avire, Michael Olunga