Harambee Stars coach faces criticism over national team selection
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Reading Time: 3min | Fri. 31.10.25. | 11:40
The South African tactician on Tuesday unveiled his squad for friendly matches against Madagascar and Comoros, set to take place in Antalya, Turkey, during the November FIFA international break
Kenya national team head coach Benni McCarthy is under increasing scrutiny for allegedly overlooking AFC Leopards players in his latest Harambee Stars squad for the upcoming international friendlies.
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The South African tactician on Tuesday unveiled his squad for friendly matches against Madagascar and Comoros, set to take place in Antalya, Turkey, during the November FIFA international break.
However, the announcement immediately sparked debate after it emerged that no AFC Leopards player had made the cut.
The exclusion comes despite the club’s strong league form and historical stature as Kenya’s third most successful side, behind Tusker FC (13 titles) and Gor Mahia (21 titles).
In contrast, archrivals Gor Mahia contributed five players to the team: goalkeeper Byrne Omondi, defenders Sylvester Owino and Michael Kibwage, and midfielders Alpha Onyango and Austin Odhiambo.
Tusker FC provided one player, goalkeeper Brian Opondo, while Kenya Police FC contributed midfielder Marvin Nabwire.
Promoted side Nairobi United, who recently reached the group stages of the CAF Confederation Cup, saw two of their stars called up: defender Manzur Suleiman and winger Ovella Ochieng, marking his return to the national fold after a lengthy absence.
Notably, the squad also omitted Harambee Stars captain Michael Olunga, though no official reason was provided.
The absence of any AFC Leopards player, not just in this squad but in recent national team selections, has drawn criticism from club legend Reginald Asibwa, who has urged McCarthy and his staff to ensure fairness and transparency in player selection.
“When I watch the Kenyan Premier League, it’s difficult to identify any team that is way ahead of the rest in terms of top-level talent,” Asibwa told Flashscore.
“The rate at which AFC Leopards players are being overlooked in recent squads is worrying.”
Asibwa, who starred for Leopards in the late 1980s and also featured for Harambee Stars, questioned the criteria used for national team selection.
“I’m not privy to the criteria used, but the process raises concerns about the yardstick applied,” he said.
“If our football level has improved or declined, it should affect all clubs equally, not just one.”
Now based in South London, Asibwa added that the trend of players being called up immediately after leaving AFC Leopards suggests bias.
“Please, those involved in selection, let it not be a witch-hunt or a way of maligning AFC Leopards,” he pleaded.
“How can it be that when a player leaves Leopards today, he’s called to the national team tomorrow? That’s not good for the game.”
He further pointed out the lack of a centralized player statistics system in Kenya, saying that without objective data, selection risks are subjective.
“I don’t think Kenya has a database tracking players’ performances, which could help justify selections or omissions,” Asibwa noted.
“Selection based purely on opinion can lead to bias, and that needs to be checked.”
Despite a shaky start to the 2025–26 FKF Premier League campaign, AFC Leopards (Ingwe) have recently bounced back with consecutive wins over KCB and Sofapaka.
They currently sit fifth in the 18-team table with nine points from five matches, a position many believe merits national team recognition for their players.
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