WCQ2022: Odada, Johana make Harambee Stars provisional squad

Former AFC Leopards Youth midfielder Richard Odada has made the 36-man Harambee Stars provisional squad set to take on Uganda and Rwanda with Sweden-based Eric Johana making a comeback to the squad released on Friday 20 August.

The big guns of KAA Gent (Belgium) defender Joseph Okumu, Eric Ouma of AIK (Sweden), Al-Duhail’s (Qatar) Michael Olunga have made the squad while Club de Foot Montréal (USA) midfielder Victor Wanyama, Barnsley's (England) Clarke Oduor, Kaizer Chiefs (South Africa) midfielder Anthony Akumu, Ayub Timbe (Unattached) and Kocaelispor's (Turkey) Johanna Omolo, Simba SC (Tanzania) Joash Onyango have been overlooked.

The biggest surprise in head coach Jacob Ghost Mulee's squad is the inclusion of Talanta midfielder Enock Momanyi and Gor Mahia midfielder Samuel Onyango who has featured sparingly as he has been reduced to appearances off the bench.

Harambee Stars is set to face arch-rivals and neighbours Uganda on Thursday 2 September as they kick start their quest to qualify for the 2022 Qatar World Cup and will take on Rwanda three days later.

Kenya is yet to qualify for the World Cup in their history with the closest they have come being the 2006 Germany World Cup where they finished fourth in Group 5, behind Tunisia, Morocco and Guinea.

Harambee Stars is in the same group alongside Mali, Uganda and Rwanda with the top team qualifying for the Third Round Playoffs that determines the five teams that qualify for the World Cup.

Goalkeepers

Ian Otieno (Zesco United, Zambia), James Saruni (Ulinzi Stars, Kenya), Joseph Okoth (KCB, Kenya), Brian Bwire (Kariobangi Sharks, Kenya), Brandon Obiero (Kariobangi Sharks)

Defenders

Joseph Okumu (KAA Gent, Belgium), Eric Ouma (AIK, Sweden), Eugene Asike (Tusker, Kenya), Nashon Alembi (KCB, Kenya), Harun Shakava (Gor Mahia, Kenya), Andrew Juma (Gor Mahia, Kenya), Siraj Mohammed (Bandari, Kenya), Clyde Senaji (AFC Leopards, ), Frank Odhiambo (Gor Mahia, Kenya), Bolton Omwenga (Nairobi City Stars, Kenya), Daniel Sakari (Kariobangi Sharks, Kenya), Baraka Badi (KCB, Kenya)

Midfielders

Richard Odada (Red Star Belgrade, Serbia), Duke Abuya (Nkana, Zambia), Duncan Otieno (Lusaka Warriors, Zambia), Lawrence Juma (Sofapaka, Kenya), Kenneth Muguna (Azam, Tanzania), Kevin Kimani (Wazito, Kenya), Patillah Omoto (Kariobangi Sharks, Kenya), Enock Momanyi (FC Talanta, Kenya), Jackson Macharia (Tusker, Kenya), Eric Johanna (Jonkopings Sondra IF, Sweden) Boniface Muchiri (Tusker, Kenya), Abdalla Hassan (Bandari, Kenya)

Forwards

Michael Olunga (Al-Duhail, Qatar), Masud Juma (Difaâ Hassani El Jadidi, Morocco), Cliffton Miheso (Gor Mahia, Kenya), Erick Kapaito (Kariobangi Sharks, Kenya), Elvis Rupia (AFC Leopards), Samuel Onyango (Gor Mahia, Kenya), Benson Omalla (Gor Mahia, Kenya)