AFC Leopards has sent congratulatory messages to the team’s pair set for national team duty with Harambee Stars for the 2026 World Cup qualifier clashes against Gabon and The Gambia slated for March 2025.

Lewis and Kelly Madada were the only Ingwe stars who made the cut in the provisional squad revealed on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, by coach Benni McCarthy.

Bandi earned his debut call -up the national team after an impressive run with Ingwe. The call up signaling the steady progress to his career, having previously featured in Kenyan junior categories of U20 and 23 sides.

Bandi and Madada will be hoping to impress the new coach and secure slots in the final squad for the important tie.

For Bandi, it has been a rollercoaster ride en route to his call-up. The Leopards’ utility player underwent knee meniscus surgery in November 2023.

The injury lay-off saw him sidelined until March 2024 when he resumed training. He quickly put the setback behind him and was among those entrusted with leadership positions in changes made in the  2024 season.

Club leadership roles

In the changes, Cliffton Moheso was named the club skipper with Bandi among the three skippers along with Levis Opiyo and Victor Omune.

In the unveiled squad, seven of Gor Mahia players got the nod, with K’Ogalo getting the bulk of any individual club with league leaders Police getting four players.

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

The World Cup qualifying matches against The Gambia will be played on Monday, March 17, 2025, and will be 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 lies 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.

Click here for the full squad.