The Kenya national football team (Harambee Stars) coach Engin Firat has named 28 players in his provisional squad for the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers, to be played between September 2 and September 10, 2024.
The squad includes familiar faces, among them goalkeepers Patrick Matasi, Bryne Omondi, and Ian Otieno, and defenders Collins Sichenje, Joseph Okumu, Johnstone Omurwa, Amos Nondi, and Abud Omar.
Notably, there is room for Eric Marcelo Ouma, who was missing in Harambee Stars’ last outings in the World Cup Qualifiers in June, and Alphonce Omija, who gave a good account of himself in the match against Ivory Coast.
Eric Johanna, Ayunga Return
After being thrown out of the team for disciplinary reasons last time, Romania-based Eric Johanna made a return. Johanna will have to fight for a place in the team with Yanga’s Duke Abuya and Sweden-based Timothy Babu Ouma. Anthony Akumu, who has been a mainstay in the team under Firat’s tenure, also makes the cut. Akumu recently signed for Iranian club Kheybar after staying clubless for close to a year.
Jonah Ayunga, meanwhile, also makes a return and will fight for a place in the final squad alongside Captain Michael Olunga, Egypt-based John Avire, and Benson Omalla, who recently moved to Lebanon to play for Safa SC.
Local-based players
Firat has also called up AFC Leopards forward Victor Omune. Omune featured in Harambee Stars’ historic match against Iran in Tehran but was set back by injuries. He has, however, picked up form at his club and earned a place in the national team.
Other local based players called up include Kayci Odhiambo (AFC Leopards), Chris Erambo (Tusker Kenneth Muguna (Kenya Police), Rooney Onyango (Gor Mahia), Austine Odhiambo (Gor Mahia), and Clifton Miheso (AFC Leopards)
There’s also room for Sylvester Owino (Gor Mahia) and Patrick Otieno (KCB), who played a crucial role for Kenya in the 2024 COSAFA Cup held in South Africa.
Anyembe, Vyner, Knost Excluded
Surprisingly, the team has no room for Daniel Anyembe, Zak Vyner, Bruce Kamau and Tobias Knost. The three, who were recently naturalized, having been born outside the country but from Kenyan roots, seemed to be critical figures for Firat following their inclusion in the team in June.
While no official reasons have been provided, it is worth noting that Anyembe and Vyner were active for their clubs, Viborg (Denmark) and Bristol City (England), respectively, over the weekend. Their absence may be a tactical decision or due to off-field factors, but it leaves room for speculation.
AFCON Qualifiers Schedule and Qualification
Harambee Stars has been pooled in Group J of the 2025 AFCON Qualifiers alongside Namibia, Cameroon, and Zimbabwe. Only the top two teams from each group will qualify for the final competition, which Morocco will host from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
2025 AFCON Qualifiers Groups
Group A: Tunisia, Madagascar, Comoros, Gambia
Group B: Morocco, Gabon, Central African Republic, Lesotho
Group C: Egypt, Cape Verde, Mauritania, Botswana
Group D: Nigeria, Benin, Libya, Rwanda
Group E: Algeria, Equatorial Guinea, Togo, Liberia
Group F: Ghana, Angola, Sudan, Niger
Group G: Ivory Coast, Zambia, Sierra Leone, Chad
Group H: DR Congo, Guinea, Tanzania, Ethiopia
Group I: Mali, Mozambique, Guinea Bissau, Eswatini
Group J: Cameroon, Namibia, Kenya, Zimbabwe
Group K: South Africa, Uganda, Congo, South Sudan
Group L: Senegal, Burkina Faso, Malawi, Burundi.
2025 AFCON Qualifiers Fixtures
- Kenya vs Zimbabwe (September 4, 2024)
- Namibia vs Kenya (September 10, 2024)
- Cameroon vs Kenya (October 7, 2024)
- Kenya vs Cameroon (October 15, 2024)
- Zimbabwe vs Kenya (November 11, 2024)
- Kenya vs Namibia (November 19, 2024)
Previous AFCON Experiences
Harambee Stars last participated in the continental showpiece at the 32nd edition, held in Egypt in 2019. Stars failed to make it out of Group C, which comprised neighbours Tanzania and eventual tournament finalists Senegal and Algeria. The latter won the competition.
In the subsequent edition in 2021, Kenya couldn’t make it to the continental showpiece held in Cameroon after coming up third in the qualifiers behind Egypt and Comoros. A draw at home against Comoros and a loss away to the island nation seemed to be the sucker punch that sealed Kenya’s fate in a group that saw Togo finish last.
Later in the 2023 qualifiers, Kenya missed out entirely on the trip to Ivory Coast for what was termed the best AFCON ever due to a FIFA-imposed ban caused by the government’s interference in the running of the football federation.
Harambee Stars Provisional Squad
Goalkeepers
Ian Otieno (Richards Bay FC), Patrick Matasi (Kenya Police), Byrne Omondi (Bandari)
Defenders
Collins Sichenje (Vodvojina), Joseph Okumu (Reims-France), Johnstone Omurwa, Amos Nondi (Ararat), Abud Omar (Kenya Police), Eric Ouma (Rakow-Poland), Sylvester Owino (Gor Mahia), Alphonce Omija (Gor Mahia)
Midfielders
Kayci Odhiambo (AFC Leopards), Chris Erambo (Tusker), Richard Odada (Dundee United), Anthony Akumu (Kheybar), Kenneth Muguna (Kenya Police), Eric Johanna (UTA-Romania), Rooney Onyango (Gor Mahia), Austine Odhiambo (Gor Mahia), Patrick Otieno (KCB), Duke Abuya (Young Africans), Timothy Ouma (Elfsberg), Clifton Miheso (AFC Leopards)
Forwards
John Avire (P. Suez), Michael Olunga (Duhail-Oman), Jonah Ayunga (ST. Mirren-Scotland), Benson Omalla (Safa SC), Victor Omune (AFC Leopards)