Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy has announced a 25-man provisional squad for the upcoming international friendlies against Chad, scheduled for June 7 and June 10, 2025, in Morocco.
The most notable inclusion is the return of veteran midfielder Victor Wanyama, who has come out of international retirement to rejoin the national team setup. Wanyama, 33, had retired from international football in 2021 after being overlooked for selection in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. His return follows discussions with McCarthy, who convinced him to don the national colors once more.
The squad features a balanced mix of seasoned campaigners and exciting new talent, as McCarthy continues to shape his team. Among the notable inclusions are Kenneth Nyamwaya (Bidco United FC) and Swaleh Pamba (Bandari FC), both earning their maiden call-ups to the senior national team.
This marks McCarthy’s second camp with the Harambee Stars, and the upcoming friendlies will offer a key opportunity to assess the squad’s depth and readiness as Kenya builds toward the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN) in August.
Players are expected to report to camp on Friday, June 2, 2025, to begin preparations for the two matches.
Provisional Squad:
Goalkeepers:
Faruk Shikhalo (Bandari FC), Sepstianos Wekesa (Kariobangi Sharks FC), Brian Bwire (Polokwane City FC)
Defenders:
Siraj Mohammed (Bandari FC), Swaleh Pamba (Bandari FC), Abud Omar (Kenya Police FC), Daniel Sakari (Kenya Police FC), Lewis Bandi (AFC Leopards), Alphonce Omija (Gor Mahia FC), Kenneth Nyamwaya (Bidco United FC), Brian Mandela (Stellenbosch FC)
Midfielders:
Victor Wanyama (Dunfermline Athletic FC), Alpha Onyango (Gor Mahia FC), Timothy Ouma (SK Slavia Prague), Brian Musa (Kenya Police FC), Ben Stanley Omondi (Gor Mahia), Boniface Muchiri (Ulinzi Stars), Mohammed Bajaber (Kenya Police FC), David Sakwa (Bandari FC), James Kinyanjui (KCB FC), Adam Wilson (The New Saints FC), William Lenkupae (Central Coast Mariners FC)
Forwards:
Moses Shumah (Kakamega Homeboyz FC), Beja Nyamawi (Bandari FC), Emmanuel Osoro (FC Talanta)
The upcoming friendlies will serve as a crucial platform for McCarthy to evaluate his squad’s cohesion and performance ahead of the CHAN tournament.
