Kenya head coach Benni McCarthy has named 24 players for the two AFCON 2027 qualifying matches against South Africa. Gor Mahia midfielder Alpha Onyango, who scored in the first three matches of the SportPesa League, is not among them.
The final list is out. According to lolwetv.co.ke, Benni McCarthy has settled on his 24-man squad for the two AFCON 2027 qualifying matches against South Africa. Alpha Onyango, the Gor Mahia midfielder, is not in it, even though he had been included in the 36-name preliminary list announced on 29 October.
The player found the back of the net in the first three SportPesa League matches with his club, against Murang’a SEAL, APS Bomet and Bandari.
A squad cut from 36 to 24 players
The decision is part of a trimming of the preliminary list from 36 to 24 names. Besides Onyango, several other players are not making the trip, according to the same source: goalkeeper Ian Otieno (Richards Bay), Caleb Kramer (ADO Den Haag), defenders Daniel Anyembe, Deon Woodman and Joseph Okumu, midfielders Marvin Nabwire and Chris Erambo, as well as forwards Aldrine Kibet, Kevin Wangaya and Lawrence Okoth.
Michael Kibwage is absent because of a disciplinary investigation. The report draws no conclusion of match-fixing, and none has been established at this stage.
Among the local clubs, Gor Mahia are represented by Byrne Omondi, Frank Odhiambo, Sylvester Owino and Ben Stanley. Tusker will be represented by Brian Bwire and Abud Omar, Nairobi United by Faruk Shikhalo and Mohammed Bajaber. Captain Michael Olunga is also on the list.
Onyango left out despite his club goals
The report does not specify the reasons for McCarthy’s choice. It only recalls that Kenya have already qualified for AFCON 2027 as co-hosts, alongside Uganda and Tanzania, as indicated by lolwetv.co.ke.
The two matches against Bafana Bafana are nonetheless official AFCON 2027 qualifying games.
Two matches four days apart
The schedule is set: Kenya travel to Orlando Stadium on 13 November to face South Africa, before hosting Bafana at Nyayo National Stadium on 17 November. The two matches are four days apart.