Three players dropped from Harambee Stars squad for 2026 World Cup qualifiers

Three players that had been included in the provisional 28-man Harambee Stars squad named last Friday will not get the chance to represent the country in the opening two games of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Gabon and Seychelles.

This is after the trio were released from camp on Tuesday ahead of the team’s departure to Franceville, Gabon on Wednesday.

SportPesa News can exclusively confirm that Gor Mahia left back Geoffrey Onyango, popularly known as Simiti, Kakamega Homeboyz forward Moses Shummah and Murang’a Seals youngster Eric Balecho are the players dropped from the initial squad.

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23-year-old Balecho and the experienced Simiti would have been in line for their debuts in the national team had they made the travelling party for the qualifiers.

Elsewhere, former Gor Mahia defender Dennis Ng’ang’a, who is currently based in Zambia with Zanaco, received a late call up to the national team and is expected to provide defensive cover in a backline plagued with injury problems.

The composed defender was brought in as Joseph Okumu awaits to pass a late fitness test, subject to his release from his parent club. Okumu picked up a knock in Stade Reims’ French Ligue 1 match against PSG.

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Defender Daniel Anyembe has also been ruled out of the two qualifiers owing to an injury he sustained at club level.

Eric Ouma, in the meantime, is in camp but will wait to be assessed by the team’s medical staff to determine whether he could play a part in the qualifiers after sustaining a knock in his last match for his club in Sweden.

According to a communique from the federation, Harambee Stars will depart for Gabon on Wednesday at 8am EAT and will arrive at 11 am EAT.

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They will first play against Gabon on Thursday 16 November in Franceville and then against Seychelles on Monday 20 November in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

Kenya has been drawn in a tricky Group F of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, Gambia, Burundi, and Seychelles.

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Goalkeepers

Patrick Matasi (Kenya Police), Ian Otieno (Zesco), Joseph Ochuka (Bandari)

Defenders

Nabi Kibunguchy (Orlando City), Hanif Wesonga (KCB), Abud Omar (Kenya Police), Daniel Sakari (Tusker), Eric Ouma (AIK), Joseph Okumu (Reims), Johnstone Omurwa (CF Estrela), Amos Nondi (Ararat), Dennis Ng'ang'a (Zanaco, Zambia)

Midfielders

Duncan Otieno (Gaborone United), Teddy Akumu (Sagan Tosu), Duke Abuya (Singida), Ayub Masika (Nanjing City), Kenneth Muguna (Kenya Police), Rooney Onyango (Gor Mahia), Eric Johanna (UTA ARAD), Richard Odada (Aalborg), Alfred Scriven (Hodd), Timothy Ouma (Elfsborg)

Forwards

Masud Juma (Al Faisaly), Michael Olunga (Al Duhail), Benson Omalla (Gor Mahia)