WCQ: McCarthy pleased as Gor Mahia’s Austin Odhiambo returns for Harambee Stars
By Joel Masibo, October 7, 2025Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy is delighted as Gor Mahia midfielder Austin Odhiambo earned a call-up to the national soccer team after missing out on the previous squad for the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers against Gambia and Seychelles in September 2025.
After impressing in the national team colours during the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN 2024) in August 2025, Odhiambo was overlooked in the last two international outings for Harambee Stars, as local fans wondered about his exclusion from the squad.
However, speaking at Police Sacco grounds on Monday, October 6, 2025, as Harambee Stars held light training for the assignments against Burundi and Ivory Coast, Benni McCarthy was pleased to have his star man back in the fold for national duties.
“I am glad that somebody is happy about the inclusion of a certain player. I think he got the message.”
“I think he (Austin) got the message; he has worked hard and played every single game for his club thus far and earned himself a captaincy role, and so I am very pleased for the boy, and obviously I hope he can continue on that path, and as long as he does that and he shows that his qualities come through his club, then he will be part and parcel of the national team,” McCarthy said.
The Harambee Stars coach further revealed that Odhiambo worked hard for his call-up, even at the club level.
”Like I said, he was part of my CHAN squad, and he was an important member, but nobody is bigger than the team, and if players don’t work hard according to my standards for the team, then you find yourself out of the team, whether you score five goals or two goals or three, it doesn’t matter. Everyone has to work hard, and he has gone and done that, and he earns himself a recall to the national team. I am happy for him.” McCarthy said.
Meanwhile, Austine Odhiambo makes a return to the fold alongside FC Senaijoki’s youngster Lawrence Okoth. Others called up at the international level include Daniel Sakari of Kenya Police, who returns after missing the previous call-up, and also Europe-based defender Vincent Harper.
Head coach McCarthy has unveiled a 24-man squad for Kenya’s final 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Burundi on October 9 and the Ivory Coast on October 14, with both fixtures to be played outside Kenya. Kenya currently sits fourth in Group F with nine points from eight games, aiming to end the campaign positively despite slim prospects of qualification.
Harambee Stars WCQ 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)