Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy, on Friday, September 26, 2025, clapped back at a fan who had hinted at boycotting the Harambee Stars match if the tactician failed to call up Gor Mahia’s Austin Odhiambo.

On his Instagram page, McCarthy sharply replied that the fan’s absence from the game, due to the midfielder’s exclusion, would not be missed.

Not missed

“We would not have missed you anyway,” McCarthy’s quick response on IG stated.

This comes after McCarthy reinstated the swashbuckling player back to the team’s squad for the upcoming back-to-back World Cup qualifiers ties scheduled to kick off on Thursday, October 9, 2025.

The midfielder, who starred in Kenya’s run in the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) games, was among the new faces alongside Lawrence Okoth and Kenya Police defender Daniel Sakari.

 The full back makes a return after missing the previous call-up.

Also back in the team is Europe-based defender, Vincent Harper, who plies hi trade with

In the next international break, Kenya will play against Burundi on Thursday, October 9, 2025, before wrapping up the campaign with a clash against the Ivory Coast on Tuesday, October 11, 2025 awy in West Africa.

Kenya’s qualifying chances went up in smoke after a matchday seven 3-1 loss to Gambia, a result that left Benni McCarthy’s team staring at an insurmountable gap with group leaders Ivory Coast.

The team did regroup to thrash Seychelles in the subsequent game ahead of their penultimate and final qualifier ties against Burundi and the Les Elephants of the Ivory Coast.

Harambee Stars WC Squad

Goalkeepers: Faruk Shikhalo (Bandari FC), Brian Bwire (Polokwane City), and Byrne Omondi (Gor Mahia).

Defenders: Manzur Okwaro (Nairobi United), Vincent Harper (Walsall), Sylvester Owijno (Gor Mahia), Alphonse Omjia (E.S. Du Sahel), Collins Sichenje (Vojvodina), Michael Kibwage (Gor Mahia), Ronney Onyango (Sogndal), Abud Omar (Kenya Police), and Daniel Sakari (Kenya Police).

Midfielders: Alpha Onyango (Gor Mahia), Duke Abuya (Yanga), Timothy Ouma (Lech Poznan), Ben Stanley (Gor Mahia), Marvin Nabwire (Kenya Police), and Austine Odhiambo (Gor Mahia).William Lenkupae (VPS), Job Ochieng (Real Sociedad), and Boniface Muchiri (Ulinzi Stars).

Strikers: Michael Olunga (Al-Arabi), Ryan Ogam (Wolfsberger AC), and Lawrence Okoth (SJK Seinajoki)