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Why Osoro and Shummah’s exit is a major setback for Harambee Stars
Reading Time: 4min | Fri. 25.07.25. | 07:13
With the two out for CHAN, Nandwa assessed McCarthy's options, eight days to the much-coveted tournament.
Harambee Stars suffered the unexpected ineligibility of the reigning FKF Premier League Golden Boot winner, Moses Shummah, and his runner-up, Emmanuel Osoro, for the upcoming 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN).
The two strikers became ineligible for the biennial continental tourney after signing with Zambian club Power Dynamos, whereas CHAN is a preserve of locally based players.
Their exit seems to have caught coach Benny McCarthy unawares, and with limited proven goal scorers. Tusker's Ryan Ogam has not regained form since his return from a lengthy injury.
In an exclusive interview with Mozzart Sport, former Harambee Stars coach and striker James Nandwa assessed the effects of the duo's absence on the national team.
“The exit of Shummah and Osoro is a big blow to the team, considering it was obvious that the coach had planned with them. We definitely lack top, sharp strikers because Ogam is just back from injury.
Now the coach has to tweak his tactics in order to accommodate that change, as the late call-ups are a testament to the lack of top strikers in the country,” said Nandwa.
With the two out for CHAN, Nandwa assessed McCarthy's options, eight days to the much-coveted tournament.
“As a former striker, I think the coach will now try to find wingers who can play as strikers or custom his tactics to give room for wingers and midfielders to score and full-backs to occupy offensive positions as is the case with PSG,” he stated.
Nandwa’s sentiments were echoed by former Harambee Stars captain Allan Wanga, who threw the ball in the court of those in camp.
“Now that Shummah and Osoro have left, it is time for those who are there to step up and fill the void. It will not be easy, but it is when Kenya are underdogs and written off that they surprise people,” said Wanga.
According to Wanga, Kenya's insufficient forward options point to a larger problem than what is currently experienced ahead of CHAN.
“Our striking problems point to a larger problem with our feeder system. The system is not producing enough quality strikers for use in the national team.
For instance, after the generation of Oliech, we were there and then left to Olunga's generation, but now from there, we have been lacking on that front,” explained the former Tusker FC striker.
After the withdrawal of Shummah and Osoro, McCarthy was left with only Ogam as the out-and-out striker in the team and Sofapaka's Edward ‘Ondimo’ Omondi, who was deployed in that position in the league but was among the first batch of dropped players.
The former Manchester United assistant coach would then explore a series of options, including Kenya Police's Clinton Kinanga and Bandari’s John Mark Makwatta.
In the end, he called Posta Rangers' Felix Oluoch, who impressed during a friendly match between Team Sharks Family and Harambee Stars, and Masud Juma, who signed a short contract with NSL side Migori Youth, making him eligible for the tournament.
The coach and Kenyans were to gauge their team in the ongoing Pre-CHAN tournament in Tanzania, but Kenya pulled out, citing unfavorable conditions, a move Nandwa disagrees with.
“If I were the coach, I would not have pulled out of the tournament, despite the circumstances and conditions in Tanzania, but again every coach has their style,” he stated.
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The former Tusker coach went ahead to explain the reason why Kenya should have participated in the championship.
“I believe we missed a golden opportunity to prepare and gauge the team ahead of CHAN, especially now that we started our preparations relatively late.
The tournament was an opportunity for the technical bench to assess the team in a high-profile friendly match that is close to the standards in CHAN and therefore make necessary adjustments,” he explained.
Nevertheless, Nandwa, who is optimistic about Kenya's progression to the latter stages of the tournament, thinks there is a way McCarthy can improve on the preparations before the tournament starts on Saturday, 2 August.
“Now that we are already out of the tournament, he (McCarthy) needs to find one or two friendlies with some of the top FKFPL teams that have resumed training in order to fine-tune his squad, especially the attack.”
As a CECAFA title-winning coach with the national team, Nandwa left a solidarity message to the team as they head for CHAN.
“To the team, Kenyans will come in their numbers to support you. Don't disappoint the fans. Everyone who gets an opportunity should bring their A-game into the matches, and I am confident the team will perform well.”
Kenya will begin their CHAN campaign on Sunday, 3 August, with a clash against DR Congo at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, from 1500 hrs.
