Namwamba sees off Harambee Stars team to Gabon

Harambee Stars have this morning left for Gabon, where they will play the hosts in the opening 2026 World Cup qualification match on Thursday at the Stade de la Rénovation de Franceville. The match will start at 7 p.m. EAT.

Stars, who were seen off at the airport by Sports CS Ababu Namwamba, left Nairobi at 8 a.m. and are expected to land in Gabon at 1 p.m.

Later in the evening, they will have a feel of the match venue ahead of the crunch game tomorrow.

This will be Kenya’s first competitive assignment in two years.

The last time Kenya featured in a competitive assignment was in November 2021 in a World Cup qualifier against Rwanda, which Kenya won 2-1 at the Nyayo National Stadium. What followed was a FIFA ban after the federation was suspended by then-Sports CS Amina Mohamed.

After the Thursday match, Kenya will leave for the Ivory Coast on Friday for Monday’s second qualifier against the Seychelles.

Coach Engin Firat has traveled with a 24-man squad that includes two players who have never donned the national team colors.

The two are Nabil Kibunguchy, who is based in the US, and KCB’s fast-rising defender, Haniff Wesonga.

There are also a number of key absentees; this includes three key defenders, Joseph Okumu, Collins Sichenje, and Brian Mandela, all of whom have been ruled out through injuries. Y

esterday, coach Firat axed three players: Moses Shumah, Erick Balecho, and Geoffrey Ochieng.

Final Squad

Goalkeepers: Patrick Matasi, Joseph Ochuka, and Ian Otieno

Defenders: Nabi Kibunguchy, Haniff Wesonga, Daniel Sakari, Dennis Nganga, Johnstone Omurwa, Abud Omar, Amos Nondi, and Eric Ouma

Midfielders: Ayub Masika, Alfred Scriven, Duke Abuya, Rooney Onyango, Duncan Otieno, Richard Odada, Kenneth Muguna, Anthony Akumu, Timothy Ouma, and Eric Johanna

Forwards: Masud Juma, Michael Olunga, and Benson Omala

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