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FKF delegation targets foreign-based players for Harambee Stars ahead of AFCON 2027
10th March, 2026 07:21 PM
Kenya’s national football team, Harambee Stars, could soon benefit from the services of several players currently plying their trade in England and other European leagues, who are eligible to represent the country through their Kenyan heritage.
A delegation from the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has travelled to England to engage these eligible players and explore the possibility of them committing to the national team.
The team is led by FKF Vice President McDonald Mariga alongside Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy. Their mission is part of Kenya’s preparations for the upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which the country will co-host with Uganda and Tanzania.
While the technical bench has recorded encouraging results with locally based footballers, there is a growing consensus that the squad requires additional depth and experience to compete effectively against Africa’s top sides.
England-based players eligible for Kenya
Several footballers in England with Kenyan roots have emerged as potential additions to the national team setup.
Zak Vyner
The defender previously accepted a call-up to represent the Harambee Stars during the tenure of the late former coach Engin Firat. However, he was unable to feature after documentation delays.
Vyner recently joined Wrexham A.F.C. and could strengthen Kenya’s defensive line in the future.
Tyler Onyango
Born to a Kenyan father and an English mother, Onyango is contracted to Everton F.C. but is currently on loan at Stockport County F.C..
The midfielder has represented England at the youth level but has not played for the senior side, meaning he remains eligible to switch allegiance to Kenya. He has previously expressed openness to representing the East African nation.
Eliot Matazo
The midfielder, who has Kenyan heritage through his mother, was born in Belgium and has featured for Belgium’s youth teams. Currently playing for Hull City A.F.C., Matazo is working his way back to fitness after recovering from a serious ACL injury.
Silko Amari Otieno Thomas
Born in England to a Kenyan father and a Jamaican mother, Thomas began his development at Carshalton Athletic F.C. in South London. After a brief spell with Chelsea F.C., he joined Leicester City F.C., where he impressed in the club’s U21 side and earned the Men’s Development Player of the Season award.
Other potential recruits
The FKF delegation is also expected to meet players who have already shown interest in representing Kenya. These include Clarke Oduor, currently with Grimsby Town F.C., and Zech Obiero, who plays for Tranmere Rovers F.C..
Oduor has already made appearances for Harambee Stars, while Obiero was once named in Kenya’s provisional U20 squad for the AFCON youth tournament.
With Kenya preparing to host the 2027 AFCON, FKF’s efforts to recruit diaspora players are seen as a strategic move to strengthen Harambee Stars and assemble a more competitive squad capable of challenging Africa’s top football nations.
