For one who was a late addition to the squad, Harambee Stars goalkeeper Byrne Omondi has justified his inclusion in the team, emerging as one of the standout goalkeepers in the 19-team tournament.
On Friday, debutants Kenya crashed out of the biennial tournament at the quarter-final stage after losing 4-3 in post-match penalties to Madagascar at Moi International Sports Centre (MISC), Kasarani. Both teams had tied 1-1 at the end of regular time and extra time.
Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy watches the post-match penalties during the 2024 Africa Nations Championship quarter-finals match between Kenyan and Madagascar at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani in Nairobi on August 22, 2025.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group
While reflecting on Kenya’s performance in the tournament, coach Benni McCarthy has singled out Omondi, 28, as one of his standout players of the tournament. Days after naming his squad for the tournament, coach McCarthy called up Omondi to the squad due to his vast international experience.
But there was still one problem with the Gor Mahia goalkeeper, who has also played for Tusker FC, KCB, Bandari, and Posta Rangers in the Kenyan league. McCarthy had seen lapses in concentration and leadership in Omondi’s previous performances, and upon entering camp, the technical bench embarked on addressing these challenges in training, turning him into the top player he is now.
Byrne Omondi, 28 Gor Mahia.
Photo credit: Nation Media Group
“Most of the videos and matches we had seen, he was a player who makes a lot of individual errors that became very costly, so when we integrated him with the team, we focused a lot not just on his performance but also on his concentration and focus levels,” South African football legend McCarthy said.
“We tried to instil a little bit of leadership in him because when you are the number one choice for the match day, you have to be a leader from behind because he is the one who sees everything clearly,” the former Manchester United first-team forwards’ coach added.
“We worked on his focus levels, and now you can see the quality. The talent he has shines through because he is more focused in games. Now the team fully depends on and trusts their goalkeeper because they know that mistakes come very rarely. He deserves the matches that he played, where he was phenomenal for the team. Hopefully, he will continue to grow game by game.”
Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy during the team's training session at Nyayo National Stadium on July 23, 2025
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group
Out of the five matches that Kenya played in the tournament, Omondi featured in four, his gloves becoming the symbol of the team’s fairy tale journey in the tournament. Apart from the quarter-final match against Madagascar, Omondi was in goal in Kenya’s Group “A” wins over two-time Chan champions Democratic Republic of Congo (1-0) and Morocco (1-0), as well as in Kenya’s 1-1 draw against Angola. His sharp reflexes and good communication with his defenders have been superb, and Kenya conceded only one goal in the group stage.
Against giants Morocco, Omondi’s performance was so impressive that he was named man of the match.
Harambee Stars captain Abud Omar (right) with goalkeeper Byrne Omondi during the 2024 Africa Nations Championship quarter-finals match between Kenyan and Madagascar at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani in Nairobi on August 22, 2025.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group
“This trophy (man-of-the-match gong) has come because of team spirit. Everyone gave their all because we are fighting for something," Omondi said after being named man of the match against Morocco.
Omondi only missed Kenya’s final group match against Zambia as McCarthy handed goalkeeper Farouk Shikalo a chance – a decision perhaps influenced by the fact that Harambee Stars had already qualified for the quarter-finals. Omondi made one save in the post-match penalty shoot-outs in Kenya’s quarter-final loss to Madagascar.
Omondi attributes his impressive performance in Chan to teamwork, and support from his fellow goalkeepers, Shikhalo and Sepstianos Wekesa, and goalkeeping trainer Moeneeb Joseph from South Africa.
“The intensive training and teamwork work is what have taken my game to another level,” Omondi said. He first played for Harambee Stars in June 2023 against Pakistan in the Four-Nation Tournament held in Mauritius.
McCarthy has said that up to 15 players of his Chan squad will be part of Kenya’s core team in the upcoming 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers, and Omondi is certain to be on that list. Drawn in Group “F” of the 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers, hosts Kenya will face both Gambia and Seychelles on September 5 and 10 respectively. Both matches will take place at MISC, Kasarani.
