Blow as Harambee Stars prospect earns USA call up

Harambee Stars prospect Andre Kenete Gitau has been named in the United States Under-20 squad for the upcoming CONCACAF U20 Championship, just months after reports suggested he had committed his international future to Kenya.

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The 19-year-old winger, born in the United States to Kenyan parents, has been firmly on the Football Kenya Federation's (FKF) radar as they step up efforts to recruit foreign-born talent ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which Kenya will co-host alongside Uganda and Tanzania.

Gitau, who currently plays for German side Mainz 05 II in the Regionalliga Südwest, was among a group of eligible players who met FKF vice-president McDonald Mariga and Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy in March.

The visit formed part of a wider recruitment drive aimed at convincing diaspora players to represent Kenya at the senior international level.

Following those discussions, reports indicated that the promising attacker had agreed in principle to play for Harambee Stars, sparking optimism that he could soon become part of McCarthy's plans.

However, that anticipated call-up has yet to materialise, with Gitau absent from both Kenya's March fixtures and the squad selected for the June international window.

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Instead, the highly rated forward has once again been called into the United States setup after earning a place in coach Rob Valentino's 20-man squad for a June training camp ahead of the CONCACAF U20 Championship.

The camp will take place in Bansko, Bulgaria, where the Americans are scheduled to face Georgia's U21 side on Friday, 5 June, before taking on North Macedonia's U21 team three days later as part of their preparations for the tournament.

The CONCACAF U20 Championship will be held in Mexico from Saturday, 25 July to Sunday, 9 August, with the United States drawn in Group A alongside Cuba, El Salvador, and Haiti.

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The competition will also serve as a qualification pathway to the 2027 FIFA U20 World Cup, with the four semi-finalists securing automatic spots at the global tournament, which will be hosted by Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.

Gitau is one of six forwards selected by Valentino and will be eager to use the tournament as another opportunity to showcase his talent.

His inclusion comes as little surprise given his long-standing involvement with the United States youth teams, having previously represented the country at the Under-16, Under-17, Under-18, and Under-20 levels.

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His most recent appearance for the Americans came in November 2024, when he earned his first cap for the U20 side.

Another impressive showing at the upcoming championship could further strengthen his position within the United States national team pathway.

Since Gitau has only featured for the United States at the youth level, he remains eligible to represent Harambee Stars should he decide to switch allegiance.