Harambee Stars coach McCarthy happy with 'Talented' squad

Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy is looking forward to the challenge of taking charge of the Kenyan national team.

McCarthy is in charge of his first assignment as the national team travels to Ivory Coast to take on the Gambia in a 2026 World Cup qualifier on Thursday and then host Gabon in Nairobi on Sunday.

They departed for West Africa on Tuesday morning.

The former FC Porto striker selected a 23 man squad for duty and is counting on securing a solid start to life as Stars coach, with Kenya needing maximum points to give themselves a chance of qualifying for the world cup to be held in the Americas.

"I’m thrilled to lead my first two World Cup qualifiers. I’m eager to work with the talented squad I’ve selected for the campaign," he said.

"There’s plenty of hard work and dedication ahead, but we’re ready to embrace the challenge as a team, he said via Football Kenya Federation.

Kenya is in group F. Ivory Coast, Seychelles, Burundi, Gabon, and The Gambia make up the six-team roster.

The winners of each group will directly qualify for the tournament. Additionally, the four best runners-up from the groups will advance to the CAF Play-Off tournament whose winner shall take part in a FIFA Playoff tournament for a chance to secure a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The team departed for Abidjan from Nairobi on Tuesday, March 18, 2025.

Previous Results (Kenya)

Seychelles 0-5 Kenya

Gabon 2-1 Kenya

Kenya 0-0 Ivory Coast

Kenya 1-1 Burundi

Traveling Squad

Goalkeepers

Ian Otieno

Brian Bwire

Faruk Shikhalo

Defenders

Jonestone Omurwa

Brian Mandela

Daniel Anyembe

Amos Nondi

Erick Ouma

Manzur Okwaro

Ronny Onyango

Midfielders

Anthony Akumu

Richard Odada

Ismael Gonzalez

Timothy Ouma

Eric Johana

Duke Abuya

Mohammed Bajaber

Ben Stanley Omondi

Forwards

Masud Juma

Jonah Ayunga

Elvis Rupia

John Avire

Michael Olunga