McCarthy defends move to call suspended Gor Mahia duo for AFCON duties
By Joel Masibo, September 23, 2026Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy has defended his move to call suspended Gor Mahia goalkeeper Bryne Omondi and defender Mike Kibwage into the national team camp for 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier duties against Eritrea and Guinea.
The Gor Mahia duo are currently into the bad books of K’Ogalo for what it is viewed as individual, lackluster performance displayed by the two that saw the Football Kenya Federation Premier League reigning champions ship in five goals against Egyptian giants Pyramids FC in a CAF Champions League match played in Cairo earlier in the month.
Speaking to local sports journalists on Wednesday, September 23, 206, the South African tactician said both Omondi and Kibwage are being judged harshly, as Pyramids is a proven club with capabilities of doing what they did to Gor Mahia in Egypt. Gor Mahia lost 7-1 to Pyramids on aggregate, bowing out of the competition prematurely.
“I happened to watch the match, and I thought the criticism was quite harsh. Pyramids is a very elite team, and it is expected, unfortunately for Gor Mahia, they should not be ashamed because this is a team three years ago were the best team in Africa. They won the CAF Champions League, a powerful team with incredible resources, very wealthy, very established club. So it is very difficult to compete. They also have a South African coach at the helm, a very good coach and tactically very smart. It was a collective effort, for people to point fingers at two individuals, I find it very harsh.” McCarthy said.
“I have confidence in them, whenever I select them they always give 110 per cent. I will have them in my squad because they have never disappointed me in the past. Just because of suspension from the club because of suspicion, that is down to the club.”
Harambee Stars squad
McCarthy has named his final squad for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027 qualifiers against Eritrea and Guinea, with a blend of locally based players and Kenyan internationals plying their trade abroad.
The squad features 22 players, with Gor Mahia providing the highest number of representatives.
Gor Mahia goalkeeper Bryne Omondi leads the goalkeeping department alongside Faruk Shikhalo of Nairobi United and Tusker’s Brian Bwire.
The defensive unit consists of Michael Kibagwe and Frank Odhiambo of Gor Mahia, Sogndal’s Rooney Onyango, Hannif Wesonga of Jamus, Stanley Wilson of AIK, Tusker’s Abud Omar, Valencia defender Amos Wanjala and Vincent Harper of Exeter City.
In midfield, McCarthy has selected Stade Reims’ Manzur Okwaro, Timothy Ouma of Charlton Athletic, Tusker midfielder Chris Erambo, Duke Abuya of Yanga and Power Dynamos midfielder Marvin Nabwire.
The attack is headlined by Al-Arabi forward Michael Olunga, who is joined by Gor Mahia’s Sharif Musa and Ben Stanley, Real Sociedad’s Job Ochieng, Javan Ochieng of Hickory FC, Micah Obiero of Carlisle United and RFC Liège forward Ryan Ogam.
Mohammed Bajaber is also listed among the forwards, although the poster identifies him as unattached.
The selection provides McCarthy with a mixture of experienced internationals and players based in different leagues, as Kenya continues its preparations for the AFCON 2027 qualifying campaign.
Olunga remains one of the most prominent names in the squad, while the inclusion of players such as Timothy Ouma, Job Ochieng, Rooney Onyango and Vincent Harper highlights the coach’s reliance on Kenyan players competing outside the country.
Harambee Stars will welcome Eritrea in Group D on Saturday, September 26, 2026 at the Nyayo National Stadium before playing Guinea away in Conakry on Thursday, October 1, 2026 at Stade du 28 Septembre in Conakry. Kenya was placed in Group D alongside South Africa, Guinea and Eritrea in the draw for the PAMOJA 2027 AFCON qualifiers.