McCarthy reveals reason behind Felix Oluoch's late Harambee Stars inclusion
Reading Time: 3min | Thu. 24.07.25. | 11:07
Oluoch was part of a makeshift side that featured both local and foreign-based players that stunned the national team 2-1 in a behind-closed-doors match at the Kasarani Annex last week
Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy has defended his surprise inclusion of Posta Rangers striker Felix Oluoch in Kenya’s final squad for the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), saying the forward was too good to ignore.
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Despite having only watched him once, McCarthy said Oluoch’s standout performance in a recent closed-door friendly was enough to earn him a spot.
“We did not get the chance to select him during the regular season, but what he showed in that friendly game convinced us,” McCarthy said.
“He stood out in that match, and we knew immediately we had to bring him in,” he added.
Oluoch was part of a makeshift side that featured both local and foreign-based players that stunned the national team 2-1 in a behind-closed-doors match at the Kasarani Annex last week.
His display in that game earned him a place in McCarthy’s final 25-man squad for the tournament, marking his long-awaited debut in the national team setup.
A select side of former Kariobangi Sharks FC players defeated the Harambee Stars CHAN team 2-1 in a friendly match held this morning at Kasarani Stadium.
— Ole Teya (@TeyaKevin) July 15, 2025
Eli Asieche and Saphan Oyugi found the back of the net for the former Sharks players.#FootballKE pic.twitter.com/zk4Zu70ADd
The 27-year-old striker has walked a long path to this point.
He rose to prominence during a brief but prolific stint with APS Bomet in the 2020/21 season, where he scored 14 goals despite joining midway through the campaign.
That form secured him a move to Kariobangi Sharks, where he netted 12 goals in 24 matches, before later joining Bandari.
Oluoch finished as the third-highest scorer in the FKF Premier League that year, despite being hampered by injuries.
His recent spell at the Mailmen has been equally impactful, most notably when he scored twice in their 2-0 first-leg victory over Naivas in last month’s promotion playoff at St. Sebastian Park in Murang’a.
The brace was enough to confirm Posta's league status next season.
His call-up is timely, as Stars were dealt a blow with the loss of Moses Shummah and Emmanuel Osoro, both of whom dropped out of the squad after sealing transfers to Zambian giants Power Dynamos.
The South African tactician has several attacking options at his disposal for the continental showdown, including Shabana’s exciting youngster Austin ‘Lastborn’ Odongo, Ulinzi Stars’ experienced winger Boniface Muchiri, Masoud Juma, Tusker FC striker Ryan Ogam, and Kenya Police forward Mohammed Bajaber.
Kenya opens its CHAN campaign on August 3 against the Democratic Republic of Congo at Kasarani Stadium, followed by Group A fixtures against Angola (August 7), Morocco (August 10), and Zambia (August 17).
