Harambee Stars Name Provisional Squad for 2027 AFCON Qualifiers

Kenya's Harambee Stars have revealed a 38-man provisional squad for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign. Head coach Benni McCarthy selected a blend of experienced players and young talent, aiming to build momentum as Kenya prepares to co-host the event alongside Uganda and Tanzania. The announcement is particularly good news for fans, as Captain Michael Olunga and Vice-captain Joseph Okumu return to the national team after recovering from injuries.

Olunga, who plays for Al-Arabi SC in Qatar, made his comeback after a five-month pelvic injury surgery in Paris. Okumu, from Stade de Reims, returned from a six-month knee ligament injury. McCarthy has also given senior debuts to three talented prospects: Kevin Wangaya, Louis Millard, and Javan Ochieng. The squad includes five goalkeepers, seven defenders, six midfielders, and 18 forwards, representing Kenya's international player base across Europe, Africa, and Asia.

Kenya are drawn in Group D for the PAMOJA 2027 qualifiers, with their first fixture against Eritrea on September 26, 2026, at Nyayo National Stadium. Despite already securing automatic qualification, McCarthy intends to treat the qualifiers as competitive matches, using them to build a championship-caliber team for the tournament on Kenyan soil.