The Kenya national senior men’s football team, Harambee Stars, has landed in Bujumbura, Burundi ahead of their crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. The team arrived on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, as they prepare to take on Burundi on Thursday, October 9, and Ivory Coast on Tuesday, October 14 in back-to-back Group F fixtures.
However, the buildup to these must-win games has been slightly overshadowed by injury concerns to three key players.
Injury Update from Head Coach Benni McCarthy
Speaking shortly after the team’s arrival, head coach Benni McCarthy confirmed that three players are under medical observation due to injury issues:
“There are some slight injury problems, but hopefully, before Thursday’s match, we will have assessed and seen the extent,” McCarthy said.
He named the affected players as:
- Rooney Onyango – The winger has been dealing with a knock sustained while at his club. “He was struggling with a little problem at his club, but he has been checked. We will monitor him during the training sessions,” McCarthy noted.
- Michael Olunga (Captain) – The striker and team leader is nursing a hamstring issue. “The captain also had some concerns, a little bit with the hamstring, but we will also monitor him as we get closer to the game.”
- Alpha Onyango – The Gor Mahia midfielder came off injured during his last club appearance. “Alpha came off in the last game with Gor Mahia, so we will check them during the training sessions and manage them,” the coach added.
Despite the concerns, McCarthy expressed optimism that the rest of the squad is fully fit and ready.
“Everyone else is 100% fit and we are looking good for the next two games.”
Upcoming Fixtures
- Thursday, October 9, 2025: Kenya vs Burundi (Away)
- Tuesday, October 14, 2025: Kenya vs Ivory Coast (Away)
Kenya currently sits 4th in Group F with 9 points from 8 matches. With only two games remaining, qualification hopes are slim, but the team is determined to end the campaign on a high.
24-Man Squad for the World Cup Qualifiers
Goalkeepers:
- Faruk Shikhalo (Bandari FC)
- Brian Bwire (Polokwane City)
- Byrne Omondi (Gor Mahia)
Defenders:
- Manzur Okwaro (Nairobi United)
- Vincent Harper (Walsall)
- Sylvester Owijno (Gor Mahia)
- Alphonse Omjia (E.S. Du Sahel)
- Collins Sichenje (Vojvodina)
- Michael Kibwage (Gor Mahia)
- Ronney Onyango (Sogndal)
- Abud Omar (Kenya Police)
- Daniel Sakari (Kenya Police)
Midfielders:
- Alpha Onyango (Gor Mahia)
- Duke Abuya (Yanga)
- Timothy Ouma (Lech Poznan)
- Ben Stanley (Gor Mahia)
- Marvin Nabwire (Kenya Police)
- Austine Odhiambo (Gor Mahia)
- William Lenkupae (VPS)
- Job Ochieng (Real Sociedad)
- Boniface Muchiri (Ulinzi Stars)
Strikers:
- Michael Olunga (Al-Arabi)
- Ryan Ogam (Wolfsberger AC)
- Lawrence Okoth (SJK Seinajoki)
