National football team Harambee Stars has received a major blow in its quest for a good outing in the coming 2027 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against Gabon and Seychelles this months.

It has emerged that experienced centre-back Brian ‘Niang’ Mandela and midfield maestro Collins Sichenje will not be available for two of the crucial games due to personal reasons and injury respectively.

Mandela who was on the bench for his South African club Mamelodi Sundowns during the first leg of the African Football League final against Wydad Casablanca on Sunday is not available for selection due to personal reasons.

Sichenje who is in the books of Swedish club AIK on the other hand will miss the two fixtures after damaging his knee and is set to undergo a surgery.

More so, coach Firat’s team selection could be dented further with the uncertainity of FC Viborg’s right-back Daniel Anyembe whose availability is still in limbo.

“Collins Sichenje will have a surgery on his knee because of his meniscus and therefore he will not be with us. Brian Mandela, also, is not available.

Daniel Anyembe is still a big question but we hope he can resume training with his club either today or tomorrow, we will see,” Harambee Stars head coach Engin Firat told People Sport concerning the trio.
Firat is noticeably comfortable with the defensive partnership of Joseph Okumu and Johnstone Omurwa at the rear guard.

However, the experience of Mandela who is capped 26 times for Kenya could have been critical in the qualifiers whether on pitch or not.

With his absence though, Firat is expected to introduce another young defender and it is yet to be established if the replacement is playing in the local league or abroad.

Daniel Anyembe has missed four consecutive matches for his team Viborg due to injury and his last outing was an away assignment against Brondby on October 8, a game that he played full 90 minutes.

The now ‘fans favourite’ defender had given some hopes of providing a long-term solution at the national outfit have sparkled friendly games against Qatar and South Sudan.

Should he be ruled out as well, coach Firat could settled on Gor Mahia’s Rooney Onyango or Armenia based utility player Amos Nondi for the important role.

Local based players are expected to report camp at Kasarani this week before jetting out for Libreville on November 13, with the first assignment against the Panthers of Gabon schedule for November 16 at the Renovation Stadium in Franceville.

Harambee Stars who are searching a maiden World Cup ticket will face a lowly ranked Seychelles on November 21 in Ivory Coast.