Kenya national team Harambee Stars lead coach Benni McCarthy has unveiled a provisional squad for the upcoming African Nations Championship (CHAN), a tournament exclusive to players competing in their domestic leagues.
According to the list released by the South African coach, the squad is drawn from the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League, showcasing the best of local talent.
Kakamega Homeboyz striker Moses Shumah, who completed the 2024/25 Premier League season as the top scorer with 17 goals, is leading McCarthy's striking department alongside Emmanuel Osoro of FC Talanta and Ryan Ogam of Tusker FC.
Osoro completed the season with 16 goals and was part of the Harambee Stars squad that played against Chad in an international friendly during the last FIFA international shatter.
During the second friendly, Osoro scored one and set up the other as Kenya beaten Chad 2-1, to hand McCarthy his first win as Harambee Stars coach.
For Ogam, he possessed a great start to the season, scoring 15 goals for the Brewers at the halfway stage, before he picked up an injury which saw him miss most parts of the campaign.
However, he returned at the closing stages but was not able to catch up with Shumah.
Sofapaka forward Edward Omondi also acquired a well-acquired call-up following a standout campaign for his club.
In the midfield, after guiding Kenya Police FC to their first-ever Premier title, youngster Mohammed Bajaber has been called up to add the creative spark.
Keith Imbali and Ulinzi Stars’ duo of Yakeen Muteheli and Staphod Odhiambo have been handed their first call-ups, while the goalkeeping department will have Farouk Shikhalo (Bandari), Sebastian Wekesa (Kariobangi Sharks), and Brian Opondo (Tusker).
Kenya to play Group A matches at KasaraniHarambee Stars will play their Group A matches at Kasarani Stadium.
They have been drawn alongside Morocco, Angola, DR Congo, and Zambia.
Kenya will play their opening fixture at 15:00 local time against the Democratic Republic of Congo at the same venue.
Later, at 18:00 local time, Morocco will take on Angola at Nyayo Stadium.
After opening against DR Congo, Kenya’s second fixture will be against Angola on Tuesday, August 7th, before they confront Morocco on Sunday, August 10th and wind up their group fixtures against Zambia’s Chipolopolo on Sunday, August 17th.
However, the tournament will kick off on Saturday, August 2nd, in Dar es Salaam with a fixture between co-host Tanzania and Burkina Faso at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium at 20:00 local time.
On Sunday, at 20:00, action will return to Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Tanzania, where Madagascar will play Mauritania.
The opening matches in Kampala will be played on Monday, August 4th, 2025, when co-hosts Uganda play Algeria at 20:00 local time, but before that, Niger will play Guinea at 17:00 local time at the same venue.
This will mark Kenya’s debut in the CHAN tournament.
While the country last contained in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), where the team exited at the group stage, this time Harambee Stars will be eager to make a deeper run, especially with the added motivation of playing on home soil.
The team is set to join camp on July 10th, 2025.
Onyango has been recalled to the squadFKF MediaThe naming of the squad comes just a few days after the Kenyan government affirmed their commitment to hosting the tournament by handing over Kasarani Stadium, which will also host the closing ceremony and the final, to the Local Organising Committee (LOC).
Tanzania’s Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam will host the opening match, while Nelson Mandela Stadium in Kampala, Uganda, has been designated to host the third and fourth matches of the event.
Zanzibar have been added to host the tournament’s matches with the New Amaan Stadium, which recently staged a successful CAF Confederation Cup 2024/25 final between Tanzania’s Simba SC and RS Berkane of Morocco, set to host Group D involving Senegal, Congo, Sudan and Nigeria.
For the first time in history, the eighth edition of the biennial association football tournament organised by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
The tournament will run from August 2nd to August 30th, 2025, and promises to be a thrilling celebration of local football talent across East Africa.
Kenya provisional squad:Goalkeepers: Farouk Shikhalo (Bandari), Sebastian Wekesa (Kariobangi Sharks), Brian Opondo (Tusker FC).
Defenders: Siraj Mohammed (Bandari FC), Manzur Suleiman (KCB), Pamba Swaleh (Bandari FC), Aboud Omar (Kenya Police), Alphonce Omija (Gor Mahia), Sylvester Owino (Gor Mahia), Michael Kibwage (Tusker), Daniel Sakari (Kenya Police), Lewis Bandi (AFC Leopards), Kevin Okumu (KCB).
Midfielders: Brian Musa( Kenya Police), Kelly Madada (AFC Leopards), Keith Imbali (Shabana), Alpha Onyango (Gor Mahia), Mathias Isogoli (KCB), Staphod Odhiambo (Ulinzi Stars), Austine Odhiambo (Gor Mahia), Ben Stanley (Gor Mahia).
Forwards: Mohammed Bajaber (Kenya Police), Boniface Muchiri (Ulinzi Stars), David Sakwa (Bandari), Emmanuel Osoro (FC Talanta), Yakeen Muteheli (Ulinzi Stars), Edward Omondi (Sofapaka), Ryan Ogam (Tusker), Moses Shumah (Kakamega Homeboyz), Beja Nyamawi (Bandari).
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