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Victor Wanyama makes Harambee Stars comeback after four years

Victor Wanyama

Harambeee Stars midfielder Victor Wanyama during a past training session at Kasarani.

Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group

By  Cecil Odongo

Reporter

Nation Media Group

What you need to know:

  • Having made his debut in 2007, he went on to earn 60 caps for the national team. He was appointed captain in 2013, taking over from Dennis Oliech.
  • Also earning call-ups to the squad are a number of fresh faces. FC Talanta forward Emmanuel Osoro, who is currently second in the Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKF-PL) scoring charts with 16 goals, has been included.

After a four-year absence from international football, veteran midfielder Victor Wanyama has rescinded his retirement and is set to rejoin the Harambee Stars squad for two international friendlies next month.

Kenya will face Chad on June 7 and 10 in Morocco as part of preparations for the upcoming African Nations Championship (Chan), which is scheduled for August.

Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy on Tuesday named a 25-man squad, with Wanyama’s inclusion standing out as the most notable.

Related

The Dunfermline Athletic midfielder announced his retirement from international football on September 27, 2021, following his removal as captain by then-coach Jacob 'Ghost' Mulee. The armband was handed over to Al Duhail forward Michael Olunga.

The last time the midfielder played for Harambee Stars was against Comoros on November 15, 2020 in a 2022 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

Having made his debut in 2007, he went on to earn 60 caps for the national team. He was appointed captain in 2013, taking over from Dennis Oliech.

Also earning call-ups to the squad are a number of fresh faces. FC Talanta forward Emmanuel Osoro, who is currently second in the Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKF-PL) scoring charts with 16 goals, has been included.

Defenders Kenneth Nyamwaya (Bidco United) and Swaleh Pamba (Bandari) are also set to make their debuts.

Coach McCarthy said the upcoming friendlies will help assess the squad as Kenya fine-tunes preparations for the delayed 2024 CHAN tournament.

Provisional Squad

Goalkeepers

Faruk Shikhalo (Bandari FC), Sepstianos Wekesa (Kariobangi Sharks FC), Brian Bwire (Polokwane City FC)

Defenders

Siraj Mohammed (Bandari FC), Swaleh Pamba (Bandari FC), Abud Omar (Kenya Police FC), Daniel Sakari (Kenya Police FC), Lewis Bandi (AFC Leopards), Alphonce Omija (Gor Mahia FC), Kenneth Nyamwaya (Bidco United FC), Brian Mandela  (Stellenbosch FC)

Midfielders

Victor Wanyama (Dunfermline Athletic FC ), Alpha Onyango (Gor Mahia FC), Timothy Ouma  (SK Slavia Prague), Brian Musa (Kenya Police FC), Ben Stanley Omondi  (Gor Mahia), Boniface Muchiri (Ulinzi Stars), Mohammed Bajaber (Kenya Police FC), David Sakwa (Bandari FC), James Kinyanjui (KCB FC), Adam Wilson (The New Saints FC), William Lenkupae (Central Coastal Mariners FC)

Forwards

Moses Shumah (Kakamega Homeboyz FC), Beja Nyamawi (Bandari FC), Emmanuel Osoro (FC Talanta)