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