Kenya head coach Benni McCarthy has unveiled a provisional 36-man squad for the double-header against South Africa, including defender Joseph Okumu and captain Michael Olunga.
Kenya now know the pool from which Benni McCarthy will draw for the two November fixtures. The Harambee Stars coach has published a provisional 36-man squad, according to The Star, as reported by FootAfrica. It covers the double-header against South Africa on 13 and 17 November in Group D of the 2027 AFCON qualifiers.
Among the names selected, international defender Joseph Okumu features in a back line that also includes Eric Ouma, Abud Omar, Vincent Harper, Stanley Wilson and Rooney Onyango. Striker and captain Michael Olunga is included, as is Gor Mahia midfielder Alpha Onyango. An expanded squad, therefore provisional: the final group has not yet been confirmed.
An away trip before the return to Nairobi
The schedule places the Kenyans away first, on 13 November, for the third matchday of the campaign. The return leg will be played four days later, on 17 November at 19:00, at the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi, for the fourth matchday.
These are two matches that will count in the race for top spot in Group D. McCarthy has no intention of merely making up the numbers in the first leg. “We have to approach these matches with the right mentality. South Africa have quality and experience, but we must believe in ourselves and play to our strengths. We are not going there merely to participate,” the coach told The Star. In other words: the Harambee Stars intend to give it a real go.
South Africa top Group D
The standings currently favour the Bafana Bafana. South Africa lead the pool with six points, earned from two wins: 2-1 against Guinea, then 5-0 against Eritrea. A perfect record that contrasts with Kenya’s start to the campaign.
McCarthy’s men opened their campaign with a 1-1 draw against Eritrea at the Nyayo, before losing 1-0 in Guinea, in Conakry. Two matches, one point: the margin for error has shrunk ahead of facing the leaders.
The peculiarity of this Group D also lies in Kenya’s status, already qualified for the 2027 AFCON as co-host, alongside Uganda and Tanzania, according to The Star. The qualifiers therefore do not determine their presence at the tournament, but they remain an opportunity to gauge the level of the Harambee Stars before the continental showpiece.
Okumu, Olunga and the spine
The expanded squad already outlines a few certainties. Okumu, Kenya international defender, is a key piece of the back line called upon to stand up to South Africa’s attack. Around him, McCarthy has called up several profiles to form his defensive line, from Eric Ouma to Rooney Onyango via Vincent Harper.
Up front, captain Olunga remains the group’s attacking reference. The presence of Gor Mahia midfielder Alpha Onyango also shows that the coach keeps an eye on the domestic league to complete his squad.
The final squad will be known ahead of the 13 November trip. Until then, McCarthy has a broad base from which to decide, with the return to the Nyayo National Stadium on 17 November at 19:00 in his sights.