Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy has confirmed his best 25 players who will represent Kenya at the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN). The tournament will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania and begins on August 2.
The squad includes experienced players and fresh faces as Kenya prepares for its first-ever CHAN appearance.
Masud Juma, who joined the camp late, brings experience to the team alongside in-form Posta Rangers forward Felix Oluoch Mboya.
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Juma is eligible after signing for National Super League side Migori Youth. The former Kariobangi Sharks man is expected to lead Harambee Stars attack that lost Moses Shumah and Emmanuel Osoro to Zambian giants Power Dynamos.
McCarthy defended Juma’s inclusion, saying he knows the striker’s quality.
“Masud Juma is another player that was communicated to us that he’s back in Kenya and that he signed with NSL team and he’s eligible to play. If I wanted to include him in the squad, I’m free to do so because he is registered in the league. He’s a player that I know of his quality, I had him in the international camp with the group, and he played a huge part for me in the team, and I’m the one who signed him at Cape Town City in South Africa,” said McCarthy.
Among the notable additions is Shabana FC rising star Austin Odongo, whose recent performances in the FKF Premier League have earned him a late national team call-up.
Speaking after his call-up to the team, Odongo said he was elated and cannot wait to step into Kasarani when CHAN begins next week.
“I am proud to be part of the team. I remember when the coach named the first team, I wasn’t part of the team, but to join in midway and make the squad shows that he saw something in me,” said the soft-spoken Shabana forward.
The former Ebwali Secondary School striker added that he has worked on building chemistry with the team, which was a problem earlier, but after many sessions, he now understands the style.
“We play for different clubs, and it was hard to play as a unit on day one. Today I can say we are one and the system is flowing,” he said.
The Shabana youngster said his main goal is to score more goals for Kenya and perhaps go for the Golden Boot award.
“I am here to score goals. How I wish I could get the Golden Boot. That would cap what has been a good year for me in football,” said Odongo.
Goalkeepers Faruk Shikhalo, Byrne Omondi, and Sebastian Wekesa will compete for the starting role between the posts.
The defence will be anchored by captain Abud Omar, supported by Daniel Sakari, Alphonce Omija, Siraj Mohammed, Sylvester Owino, Michael Kibwage, and Lewis Bandi.
Promising youngsters Manzur Suleiman, Swaleh Pamba, and Kevin Okumu have also been included, with Pamba and Okumu earning their first senior call-ups.
Midfield options include Brian Musa, Alpha Onyango, Austine Odhiambo, Ben Stanley, and Marvin Nabwire, offering both creativity and stability.
Up front, Masoud Juma will be joined in the attack by Boniface Muchiri, Mohammed Bajaber, and Ryan Ogam.
McCarthy, speaking after unveiling the squad, praised the players’ efforts in training and expressed confidence ahead of the tournament:
“The boys have worked hard and shown great commitment. Our preparations have been intense, and I believe we are ready to compete and make the country proud,” he said.
Kenya are in Group A alongside DR Congo, Angola, Morocco, and Zambia. Stars will begin their campaign on August 3 against DR Congo at Kasarani, before facing Angola and Morocco. Their final group match will be against Zambia.