Head coach Benni McCarthy has named a provisional list of 11 forwards, including Michael Olunga, for the double header against South Africa on 13 and 17 November in AFCON 2027 qualifying.
Kenya head coach Benni McCarthy has made public a provisional squad that leans heavily towards attack: eleven forwards are called up for the double clash with South Africa, according to theinformer.co.ke. The two matches count towards AFCON 2027 qualifying.
A squad built for attack
Among them is Michael Olunga, the Kenya national team striker. Kevin Wangaya and Aldrine Kibet are also among the forwards selected, as are Ryan Ogam and Mohammed Bajaber.
The list contains 36 players: five goalkeepers, thirteen defenders, seven midfielders and eleven forwards. The goalkeepers are Byrne Omondi, Faruk Shikhalo, Ian Otieno, Brian Bwire and Caleb Kramer. The defence includes Joseph Okumu, Eric Ouma, Abud Omar and Rooney Onyango.
The midfield brings together seven players: Chris Erambo, Alpha Onyango, Henry Ochieng, Manzur Okwaro, Marvin Nabwire, Zak Vyner and Alwyn Tera. With eleven forwards to seven midfielders, the imbalance is stark.
It is, however, a provisional list, liable to change before the November fixtures.
One point from two games
Kenya have taken just one point from two matches in Group D: a 1-1 home draw against Eritrea, then a 0-1 defeat in Guinea, reports theinformer.co.ke.
South Africa, by contrast, lead the group with six points after two wins: 2-1 against Guinea and 5-0 against Eritrea. The South Africans therefore go into the double header in a position of strength.
Kenya travel first to Johannesburg for the first leg on Friday 13 November. The return match is scheduled for the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi on Tuesday 17 November at 19:00 East Africa Time.
McCarthy faces his past
The clash has a special flavour for Benni McCarthy. A legend of South African football and the all-time top scorer for the South Africa national team, he will face his former national side, notes theinformer.co.ke.
The stakes go beyond the personal: AFCON 2027 will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.