Harambee Stars coach Sebastien Migne has announced a 21-man squad for next month’s back to back Afcon 2019 qualifiers against Walia Ibex of Ethiopia.
Tottenham Hotspur midfielder and Stars’ skipper Victor Wanyama has been summoned despite failing to show-up for the last qualifier against Ghana early this month.
Wanyama remained behind to continue with his rehabilitation following a long injury layoff.
However, Migne felt he could have just honored the call-up so that the national team’s medical team could asses him.
Making a return to the squad after a while in the cold is speedy winger Paul Were of Kazakhstan’s FC Kaisar and Maritzburg FC defender Brian Mandela, who is also coming from a long term injury.
In the absence of Mandela, who was also suspended after being sent off in Stars’ first qualifier away to Sierra Leone in Freetown last year, Gor Mahia’s Joash Onyango partnered Musa Mohammed at the heart of defense.
Unfortunately Onyango was also suspended against Ghana after picking a straight red and will miss the Ethiopia outings. He has nonetheless made the reserve team.
Read: Shujaa’s Provisional Squad For 2018-19 Season Revealed
The rest of the squad is largely similar to the one that revived Kenya’s hopes of making a return to the Afcon after edging out fancied Ghana’s Black Stars 1-0 at the Kasarani Stadium.
Kenya was last represented at the table of men 14 years back when they qualified for the 2004 edition in Tunisia.
Stars take on the Walias away on 10 October 2018 in Bahir Dar before hosting the return leg four days later at Kasarani.
Kenya is third in Group F of the qualifiers on three points same as Ghana, Sierra Leone and Ethiopia with just goal difference separating them after two rounds of matches.
Full Squad
Goalkeepers
Patrick Matasi (Tusker, Kenya), Farouk Shikalo ( Bandari, Kenya)
Defenders
Philemon Otieno (Gor Mahia, Kenya), Jockins Atudo (Posta Rangers, Kenya), Musa Mohammed (Nkana FC, Zambia), Brian Mandela (Maritzburg FC, South Africa), Abud Omar (Cercle Brugge, Belgium), David Ochieng (IF Brommapojkarna, Sweden), Erick Ouma (Vasalund, Sweden), Joseph Okumu (Real Monarchs, USA)
Midfielders
Dennis Odhiambo (Sofapaka, Kenya), Francis Kahata (Gor Mahia, Kenya), Ismael Gonzales (Las Palmas, Spain), Victor Wanyama (Tottenham Hotspurs, England), Anthony Akumu (Zesco, Zambia), Johanna Omollo (Cercle Brugge, Belgium), Paul Were (FC Kaisar, Kazakhstan)
Forwards
Piston Mutamba (Sofapaka, Kenya), Michael Olunga (Kashiwa Reysol, Japan), Eric Johanna (IF Brommapojkarna, Sweden), Ovella Ochieng (Vasalund, Sweden)
Reserve Players
Brian Bwire (Kariobangi Sharks, Kenya), Benard Ochieng (Vihiga United, Kenya) Sosthenes Idah (Thika United, Kenya), Duncan Otieno (AFC Leopards, Kenya), Whyvonne Isuza (AFC Leopards, Kenya), Abdallah Hassan (Bandari, Kenya), Joash Onyango (Gor Mahia, Kenya), Cliff Nyakeya (Mathare United, Kenya), Allan Wanga (Kakamega Homeboyz, Kenya)
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