Veteran midfielder Victor Wanyama has made a return to the Harambee Stars squad after coming out of international retirement, and is expected to play a key role as Kenya gears up for the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN).
The 33-year-old, currently with Scottish Championship side Dunfermline Athletic, last featured for the national team in 2021 before hanging up his international boots.
Wanyama, a former captain, famously led Kenya during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, where the team exited in the group stage behind finalists Algeria and Senegal.
Wanyama made his national team debut in 2007 at just 15 years old during a friendly against Nigeria, and went on to feature in all six of Kenya’s 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Newly appointed head coach Benni McCarthy has included Wanyama in the provisional squad for two upcoming friendly matches against Chad, scheduled for June 7 and June 10, 2025, in Morocco.
These fixtures are expected to provide valuable insights into the team’s readiness ahead of CHAN in August.
McCarthy is overseeing his second training camp with the Harambee Stars, and the friendlies will serve as a key opportunity to assess squad depth and build cohesion.
Among the fresh faces in the squad are defenders Kenneth Nyamwaya (Bidco United) and Swaleh Pamba (Bandari FC), both earning their first senior national team call-ups.
The players are expected to report to camp on June 2, 2025, to begin preparations.
Provisional Harambee Stars Squad:
Goalkeepers: Faruk Shikhalo (Bandari FC), Sepstianos Wekesa (Kariobangi Sharks FC) and 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) and 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 FC), Boniface Muchiri (Ulinzi Stars), Mohammed Bajaber (Kenya Police FC), David Sakwa (Bandari FC), James Kinyanjui (KCB FC), Adam Wilson (The New Saints FC) and William Lenkupae (Central Coast Mariners FC).
Forwards: Moses Shumah (Kakamega Homeboyz FC), Beja Nyamawi (Bandari FC), Emmanuel Osoro (FC Talanta).