CHAN: Changes galore for Harambee Stars just four days to DR Congo clash
On Monday, McCarthy had to accept the withdrawal of playmaker Mohamed Bajaber, who left camp to attend to his pending transfer move from Kenya Police to Tanzania's Simba SC
With just four days sitting firmly between national team Harambee Stars and their opening African Nations Championships 2024 (CHAN) fixture versus DR Congo, several changes have been forcefully made to the squad as kick off nears.
The Harambee Stars face off with the Congolese in their opening clash at the Moi Sports Centre Kasarani on Sunday 3 August 2025, at 3 PM, the first match to be played in the country during the highly anticipated competition.
The Stars' under the tutelage of head coach Benni McCarthy, have been in camp at Kasarani for the last two weeks as they seek to find a winning formula ahead of what is expected to be a tough group A. The Stars take on DR Congo, Angola, Zambia and Morocco in their group matches.
On Monday, McCarthy had to accept the withdrawal of playmaker Mohamed Bajaber, who left camp to attend to his pending transfer move from Kenya Police to Tanzania's Simba SC.
According to Football Kenya Federation, the Police FC attacking midfielder has signed a two-year deal with the Tanzanian Premier League champions Simbas SC and is expected to link up with his new teammates immediately for their pre-season tour in Egypt.
Previously, forwards Emmanuel Osoro and Moses Shummah also both exited the squad earlier this month after sealing moves to Zambian Premier League sides.
As a result, midfielders Tusker FC's Chris Erambo, Sofapaka man Edward Omondi and Brian Michira from Shabana joined camp Monday to shore up the midfield numbers ahead of the continental competition which Kenya will be participating in for the first time. They will come in at a time when Marvin Nabwire from Kenya Police FC, who has been expected to be a main part of the midfield formation was injured during training.
So far, the team is in high spirits.
"We have prepared as well as we can. Some of the issues we have faced are out of our control. The team is in high spirits and looking forward to Sunday, McCarthy said Tuesday at Kasarani.
The tournament runs August 2 to 30, 2025 and will see three countries co host a competition, a first in the African continent.
