Bajaber headlines took center stage this week after Kenya’s squad suffered a fresh setback with the departure of creative midfielder Mohammed Bajaber, just days before the tournament kickoff.
The highly-rated Kenya Police FC star has finalized a transfer to Simba SC, Tanzanian Premier League champions, signing a two-year deal. Bajaber is expected to immediately join Simba’s pre-season tour in Egypt, ruling him out of Kenya’s CHAN 2024 opener against DR Congo on August 3.
According to a Football Kenya Federation (FKF) statement, the exit triggered an urgent reshuffle in the Harambee Stars camp, with Brian Michira receiving a late call-up on Sunday night to replace Bajaber in the attacking midfield role.
Benni McCarthy Faces Tactical Shake-Up
The departure of Bajaber further complicates matters for head coach Benni McCarthy, who had recently defended including the playmaker in his 25-man squad despite concerns over his match fitness. The South African tactician had earlier confirmed that Bajaber had been training individually and was close to full recovery.
Now, McCarthy must rethink his offensive strategies. Bajaber becomes the third key player to leave the CHAN 2024 camp in under a month. Forwards Emmanuel Osoro and Moses Shummah both exited earlier in July after signing with Zambian Premier League clubs.
Bajaber’s Value and Kenya’s Readiness
The loss of Bajaber is significant. He was instrumental in Kenya Police’s FKF Premier League title win and scored on his Harambee Stars debut during a World Cup qualifier against The Gambia in March 2025.
His creative presence and attacking vision were expected to drive Kenya’s midfield at CHAN 2024, where the Harambee Stars are drawn in a tough Group A alongside Morocco, DR Congo, Angola, and Zambia.
Adding to the uncertainty, Edward Omondi (Sofapaka) and Erick Otieno (Tusker) were both seen in training, despite not being part of the original 25-man squad. The ongoing changes have sparked questions about squad cohesion, tactical clarity, and whether McCarthy will have sufficient time to stabilize the team before their high-stakes opener in Kinshasa.
Kenya’s CHAN 2024 Group A Fixtures:
- August 3: Kenya vs DR Congo
- August 7: Kenya vs Morocco
- August 11: Kenya vs Angola
- August 15: Kenya vs Zambia
The Harambee Stars will be looking to overcome these disruptions and make a mark at CHAN 2024, which features only locally-based players across the continent.
