McCarthy explains absence of Danish-based defender despite Harambee Stars call up
Reading Time: 2min | Mon. 23.03.26. | 19:05
The South African tactician was speaking at Nyayo National Stadium on Monday, 23 March, during the team’s training session as preparations intensify for the international tournament set for later this week
Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy has revealed that defender Daniel Anyembe has withdrawn from the national team camp ahead of the upcoming FIFA Series matches.
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The South African tactician was speaking at Nyayo National Stadium on Monday, 23 March, during the team’s training session as preparations intensify for the international tournament set for later this week.
McCarthy disclosed that the Harambee Stars defender, who features for Viborg FF in the Danish top flight, personally requested to be excused from the camp.
The coach explained that the player is keen on helping his club secure a European spot next season, with Viborg currently in a competitive race in the Danish Superliga Championship Round.
“Daniel Anyembe, the same situation, his team is in a fight for European places, so he spoke to me personally and asked me if I could excuse him for this camp.
Obviously, we want a player to give himself the best chance for his club to finish in European places,” McCarthy said.
“So that was my conversation with Daniel Anyembe, and that’s why you don’t see him here, but he was in the initial squad that I wanted,” he added.
Viborg have quietly emerged as one of the Danish Superliga’s competitive sides this season, having positioned themselves strongly in the push for a UEFA Europa Conference League slot.
A string of positive results, including narrow wins over Silkeborg and Brøndby, has boosted their European ambitions.
For Anyembe, the withdrawal means he will miss an opportunity to add to his 14 caps for Kenya.
The Danish-born defender was first called up by the late Engin Firat and made his debut on 28 March 2023, in a friendly match against Iran.
Since then, he has grown into a regular figure in the national team setup, featuring in key fixtures including FIFA World Cup qualifiers and Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
Under McCarthy, who took charge in March 2025, Anyembe was part of the coach’s first squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against The Gambia and Gabon.
His last appearance for Kenya came in March 2025 during a 2-1 defeat to Gabon at Kasarani Stadium.
At club level, Anyembe has been a key figure for Viborg this season, making 23 appearances, 21 of them starts, averaging 83 minutes per match, and has kept five clean sheets while finding the back of the net once.
Kenya will begin their FIFA Series campaign on Friday against Estonia before facing either Rwanda or Grenada. All matches will be staged in Kigali.