Double blow as McCarthy names final Harambee Stars squad for CHAN
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Reading Time: 2min | Wed. 30.07.25. | 17:27
During Harambee Stars' last open media session before the tournament on the sidelines of the team's training camp at Police Sacco Stadium on Wednesday, 30 July, a sombre McCarthy broke the sad news.
With just three days left to the 2024 African Nations Championship, Harambee Stars have been dealt a major blow after head coach Benni McCarthy announced that two players have been ruled out of the tournament.
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Kenya Police FC midfielder Brian Musa sustained a thigh injury that will seemingly keep him out of the tournament.
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More worrying was the announcement that Bandari FC defender Pamba Swaleh is set to miss the tournament due to a heart problem.
Speaking to the media during Harambee Stars' last open media session before the tournament on the sidelines of the team's training camp at Police Sacco Stadium on Wednesday, 30 July, a sombre McCarthy broke the sad news.
“We have been unfortunate to lose two players who were very key in our plans. We lost Brian Musa to a third-grade thigh injury after coming back from Tanzania,” said McCarthy.
The former Manchester United forwards' coach went ahead to reveal the big role that the former Posta Rangers midfielder was expected to have on the team.
“He (Musa) was one of our key players and was expected to be in the starting eleven. Losing him is a blow to us because we now have to find a replacement.”
Of major concern, though, is the reason for the impending exit of Swaleh from the squad.
“When we did our medicals, Swaleh was found to have an issue in the heart, which is a major concern. We will liaise with CAF to give us the way forward on how to handle such an issue.
We are now left to choose between having him in the team and risking what might happen to him in any bad luck, and so we have to make the difficult decision of finding a replacement,” disclosed McCarthy.
The duo now join Mohammed Bajaber in missing the tournament, who is set to make a multi-million move to Tanzanian giants Simba SC.
McCarthy handed late call-ups to Edward ‘Ondimo’ Omondi and Shabana's duo of Austin Odongo and Brian Michira as replacements for the trio.
CHAN 2024 Final Squad
Goal Keepers
Faruk Shikhalo, Byrne Omondi, Sebastian Wekesa
Defenders
Siraj Mohammed, Manzur Suleiman, Abud Omar, Alphonce Omija, Sylvester Owino, Mike Kibwage, Daniel Sakari, Lewis Bandi, Kevin Okumu
Midfielders
Chrispine Erambo, Brian Michira, Alpha Onyango, Austin Odhiambo, Ben Stanley, Marvin Nabwire
Fowards
Edward Omondi, Boniface Muchiri, David Sakwa, Ryan Ogam, Masoud Juma, Austin Odongo, Felix Oluoch
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