Harambee Stars talisman Michael Olunga has commended the inclusion of young locally-based players in the team for the World Cup qualifiers, terming it as crucial in view of the upcoming 2027 African Cup of Nations and the Confederations of African Games.

Speaking moments before the team’s departure for Ivory Coast this Tuesday, March, 18, 2025, the Al Duhail striker tipped the local based call-ups to reap the benefits of an early taste of the working of the national team.

The skipper stressed on the huge difference that the national team possesses from the club set up, highlighting the levels of exposure and pressure involved.

“We believe the future is bright. It’s positive to see players making it to the final squad. We have a crop of good players in the local league that were named in the provisional squad. It’s good to see them integrated early stage and at an early level. It is important for them,” he said.

With Kenya set to historic hosting of the 2027 AFCON games, a football first for the nation and East Africa region, Olunga stressed that engaging the local-based players will boost their development and brace them for weightier responsibilities.

The 2027 continental showpiece will be preceded by the CHAN games, a bi-ennial tournament for the local based player African players slated for August this year.

“This year, we are going to host CHAN. We need every player to be tested at a high level of the national team. Sometimes the club level and national team are different stages and they need to have a feel of the environment. So it’s a stage where most of them get the hardening and positive growth,” he said.

Future call-ups

The former Gor Mahia man also left a message of hope to the players dropped after coach Benni McCarthy’s culled many Kenya Premier League players from his final 23-man squad.

In his plea, Olunga urged the players not to chin up and stay on their case for earning future chances.

“To those who didn’t make it it’s an open gate for anybody in the team to continue working and maybe you will be rewarded in the next call-up or final squad of the next assignment,” he added.

The national team will first face Gambia on Thursday, March 20, 2025, at Stade Allasane Ouattara in Ivory Coast. 

A home clash against Gabon at the Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi on Sunday, March 23, 2025 will follow afterwards.