Harambee Stars Probable XI: Headache for Firat on who to start in defense, Olunga trust unwavering

Kenya men’s national football team - Harambee Stars - will on Thursday evening begin their hunt for a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup when they play their first of 10 qualification matches on the road and against 86th ranked Gabon at the Stade de la Rénovation de Franceville from 1900 EAT.

Stars have been placed in Group F of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, where they will play against Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, Gambia, Burundi, and Seychelles.

Following tonight’s fixture, Engin Firat’s men will depart to Abidjan, Ivory Coast, on Friday, ahead of the second match of the qualifiers against Seychelles.

With the match slated for Monday, it is only right for all the attention to be on the fixture at hand, and in this piece, we look at the ideal starting line-up coach Firat might go with, given the well documented list of players missing.

In case you missed it, Kenya will have to make due without a host of their defensive pieces due to injury including: goalkeeper Bryne Odhiambo, Daniel Anyembe, Brian Mandela, Collins Sichenje, Joseph Okumu and Eric Ouma.

Also on the ‘doubtful’ but ‘could play’ list is winger Ayub Timbe, who is carrying some injury concerns.

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Probable Starting XI

Judging from Kenya’s last friendly against Russia - and drawing from games against South Sudan and Qatar - it is clear Firat’s system will be a 4-5-1 formation that transitions to a 4-3-3 mid-game.

Goalkeeper

Following the unfortunate scenes of Bryne Odhiambo suffering a left foot fracture 16 minutes into the Russia friendly, we witnessed his replacement Patrick Matasi put up a brave performance from the bench, and in what was his first appearance for Harambee Stars since March.

It goes without saying that he will pip Joseph Ochuka and Ian Otieno for the starting role.

Defense

The dreaded area where Firat will get his head rolling.

Let’s begin with this: Only one of his regular back four is available.

The man is Joseph Omurwa. He will earn a slot as one of the starting center backs.

Partnering him we tend to believe will be Nabi Kibunguchy.

His competition - Dennis Ng’ang’a - made the team late as a replacement to Joseph Okumu, and it will be surprising if Kibunguchy, who is the newest member on the team, was called up early to sit on the bench in such a critical game.

Furthermore, Firat had some nice praise for him here.

At right back, Amos Nondi will retain his place with Anyembe missing, while Aboud Omar will start at left back.

Midfield

We will probably see five men in midfield: 2 holders, two on the wings - acting as wingbacks - and one attacking midfielder behind the main striker.

The two deep midfielders will likely be the tandem of Anthony Akumu and Richard Odada, who have shown their might in the recent fixtures, including the latest against Russia, where the former burst through the middle to score Kenya's opening goal.

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Slightly ahead of them will be Kenneth Muguna - sort of playing at the tip of a triangle offense - with two men on either side.

Coming off a bright debut despite being sprung further forward, will be Rooney Onyango playing on the right, with Masoud Juma - fancied by Firat - starting on the left side.

It should be said that given how the game turns out, we are likely to see Onyango and Juma drift upfront, looking to tee up the target man as wingers in a kind of 4-3-3 formation.

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Attack

Despite a rare off-show against Russia last time out, Firat made it clear that his captain has no equal in the country.

One of the biggest certainties here is that Michael Olunga will start as the team’s striker, and that is without considering the public lynching of his main competition Benson Omala.

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On the bench, will be chances for Haniff Wesonga and Dennis Nganga to make their Stars debuts.

Probable Starting XI: Patrick Matasi (GK), Amos Nondi, Nabi Kibunguchy, Johnstone Omurwa, Aboud Omar, Anthony Akumu, Richard Odada, Kenneth Muguna, Rooney Onyango, Masoud Juma, Michael Olunga.

Match kicks off at 7PM EAT.