NAIROBI, Kenya – With just days to go before kickoff, Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy has named Kenya’s final squad for the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN), making several bold last-minute changes in a bid to sharpen the team’s edge.
McCarthy has drafted in midfielder Brian Michira (Shabana FC), playmaker Chrispin Erambo (Tusker), and striker Edward Omondi (Sofapaka), replacing Mohammed Bajaber, Swaleh Pamba, and Brian Musa—who were dropped over fitness concerns.
“At this level, you need players who are 100 per cent ready—physically, mentally, tactically,” said McCarthy during Wednesday’s squad announcement. “We had to make these changes for the good of the team.”
The trio brings a mix of energy, vision, and tactical versatility to the squad. Michira, a deep-lying playmaker, has earned plaudits for his distribution and game-reading abilities.
Erambo offers dynamism and defensive balance in midfield, while Omondi adds pace and directness to the frontline.
However, McCarthy’s final selection also reflects unavoidable setbacks. Top scorers Moses Shumah and Emmanuel Osoro were ruled out after sealing overseas transfers, making them ineligible under CHAN rules that permit only domestically based players. Bajaber similarly exited the squad following a move abroad.
“Shumah and Osoro were electric last season—first and second in the goal charts. Losing them days before kickoff is a blow,” McCarthy admitted. “But we move forward.”
Final Harambee Stars Squad – CHAN 2025
Goalkeepers: Faruk Shikhalo, Byrne Omondi, Sebastian Wekesa
Defenders: Siraj Mohammed, Manzur Suleiman, Abud Omar, Alphonce Omija, Sylvester Owino, Mike Kibwage, Daniel Sakari, Lewis Bandi, Kevin Okumu
Midfielders: Chrispin Erambo, Brian Michira, Alpha Onyango, Austin Odhiambo, Ben Stanley, Marvin Nabwire
Forwards: Edward Omondi, Boniface Muchiri, David Sakwa, Ryan Ogam, Masoud Juma, Austin Odongo, Felix Oluoch
Kenya heads into the tournament in a daunting group featuring Morocco, DR Congo, Angola, and Zambia—some of the continent’s CHAN heavyweights. Yet McCarthy remains confident.
“We know the challenge. This is not going to be a walk in the park,” he said. “But this is a new generation of Harambee Stars—hungry, homegrown, and ready.”
The South African tactician also underscored the advantage of playing on home soil, urging fans to rally behind the team at Kasarani Stadium.
“That roar from Kasarani—it can lift us when our legs are tired and push us when things get tough,” he said. “Playing at home is a privilege.”
This will be Kenya’s debut appearance at CHAN, and expectations are high for the squad to prove themselves on the continental stage.