On Thursday, Harambee Stars fans took to social media to question the omission of attacking midfielder Austine Odhiambo, forward Mohammed Bajaber and left-back Erick 'Marcelo' Ouma from Kenya’s squad for the 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers against Gambia and Seychelles.
Odhiambo, a midfielder for Gor Mahia, scored two goals for Harambee Stars in the Group A matches of the 2024 African Nations Championship. However, he was an unused substitute in Kenya’s quarter-final clash against Madagascar, which the home team lost 4–3 on penalties after a 1–1 draw in regular and extra time at the Moi International Sports Centre in Kasarani. Odhiambo was one of Kenya’s stand-out players.
Harambee Stars player Austine Odhiamdo celebrates his goal against the Democratic Republic of Congo in Group 'A' match of 2024 African Nations Championship at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani on August 3, 2025.
Photo credit: Sila Kiplagat | Nation Media Group
Ouma plays for Raków Częstochowa in the Polish football league and Bajaber joined Tanzanian giants Simba last month.
On Thursday, fans took to social media to question their omission from the squad.
“Bajber vipi?” another fan, @martin_muraythi, wrote on X.
“Biggest mistake the coach did in this tournament… Austine Odhiambo is far much better than anyone in the middle the country needed the win.. patching things up for the nation would have been good. Kenya missed him against Madagascar,” @Gaffer254 wrote on X.
While the reason for Odhiambo's omission is unclear, Ouma, who plays for Raków Częstochowa in the Polish football league, is injured, and Bajaber joined Tanzanian giants Simba last month. He was recovering from an injury at the time.
Hours after the team was named, Ouma, aged 29, explained why he had been left out of the squad.
“Dear fans, unfortunately yesterday (Wednesday) during our training, I got injured and the test revealed that I raptured my Achilies tendon ,I would have wished to play for my club and Kenya during the upcoming games but unfortunately it is beyond my control , I will do everything to come back stronger than ever … God bless you all,” Ouma posted on his Facebook page.
Harambee Stars left back Erick "Marcelo" Ouma during the team's training session at Kenya School of Monetary Studies on September 5, 2018. PHOTO | VINCENT OPIYO |
Ouma last played for Kenya in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Gabon on 23 March at the Nyayo National Stadium. Kenya lost the match 2–1.
On Wednesday, coach McCarthy announced his 23-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against The Gambia and Seychelles in September. The Harambee Stars will play The Gambia on Friday 5 September, before facing Seychelles on Tuesday 9 September. Both matches will be played at the Moi International Sports Centre in Kasarani, Nairobi. They will kick off at 4 pm.
The squad comprises 13 players who were part of the Harambee Stars squad that was eliminated from Chan 2024 in the quarter-finals last Friday following a 4-3 penalty shootout loss to Madagascar, who went on to reach the final.
Later on Wednesday, McCarthy responded to queries on Instagram.
In response to @edd_kipkorir, he stated that Ouma could not be called up due to his recovery from an operation following an Achilles tendon injury.
Harambee Stars attacking midfielder Mohammed Bajaber in training with Tanzania's Simba Sports Club on August 14th, 2025, in Egypt.
Photo credit: Pool
On Bajaber, he informed the concerned user @am.kanga that the Simba SC winger is still recovering from the hamstring injury that prevented him from being selected for the Harambee Stars' Chan 2024 squad.
McCarthy was responding to comments published by fans under a photo posted by the Harambee Stars' official Instagram account.
Fans also tagged McCarthy to ask about the absence of other players, such as left-back Mohammed Siraj and midfielder Odhiambo.
However, these questions went unanswered by the South African at the time of going to press.
Harambee Stars will kick off the next phase of their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Gambia on 5 September at the Moi International Sports Centre in Kasarani.
Four days later, on September 9, Kenya will play Seychelles at Kasarani Stadium from 4 pm. After these two home fixtures, Harambee Stars will conclude their FIFA World Cup qualifiers with away games against Burundi on October 6 and Côte d'Ivoire a week later.
