Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy has recalled midfielder Austin Odhiambo for their 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers Group “F” final match against African giants Cote d’Ivoire and Burundi on October 9 and 14 respectively.
Odhiambo is among six midfielders called up in McCarthy’s 24-man squad for the two away matches whose results will be academic as Kenya is already out of the running for a World Cup ticket.
After facing Burundi at Intwari Stadium in Bujumbura, Kenya will travel to Abidjan to clash with Cote d’Ivoire at Alassane Ouattara Stadium.
Odhiambo was surprisingly excluded from the squad that was named to play both Gambia and Seychelles in last month’s qualifiers, and many Kenyan fans questioned his omission.
Harambee Stars midfielder Austin Odhiambo in action on August 9, 2025 during their training for Total Energies Africa Nations Championship at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation
Odhiambo had also been excluded from the Kenya squad that lost 4-3 in post-match penalties to Madagascar in the African Nations Championship quarter-final despite his impressive performance in the group stage.
He, in fact, scored in both Harambee Stars’ 1-0 wins over Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola.
Odhiambo too has not spoken about his previous exclusions as talk circulated about possible discipline issues getting him in trouble with McCarthy.
Defender Lewis Bandi, midfielder Richard Odada, and striker Emmanuel Osoro are the only players who have been dropped. Others recalled are defenders Daniel Sakari and Vincent Harper.
Harper, who is based in England, received his maiden Harambee Stars call up under former coach Engin Firat.
Harambee Stars players train at Utalii Sports Club on September 1, 2025
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group
Striker Lawrence Okoth is the only new face in the team. He scored two goals for Kenya in the 2025 Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations held in Egypt in April.
Kenya’s hopes of featuring at the 2026 Fifa World Cup were extinguished after they suffered a humiliating 3-1 loss to Gambia at Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani on September 5.
Cote d’Ivoire tops the pool with 20 points followed by Gabon with 19 points. Gambia are placed third with 10 points, followed by Burundi, also with 10 points.
The nine group winners will book a direct ticket to the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico, which is scheduled to run from June 11 to July 19.
Goalkeepers - Faruk Shikhalo, Byrne Omondi, Brian Bwire
Defenders - Manzur Suleiman, Vincent Harper, Sylvester Owino, Alphonce Omija, Collins Sichenje, Michael Kibwage, Ronney Onyango, Abud Omar, Daniel Sakari
Midfielders - Alpha Onyango, Duke Abuya, Timothy Ouma, Ben Stanley, Marvin Nabwire, Austine Odhiambo
Forwards - William Lenkupae, Job Ochieng, Boniface Muchiri, Michael Olunga, Ryan Ogam, Lawrence Okoth
