'These people hate us' - AFC Leopards official after Ingwe players snubbed from Harambee Stars squad
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Reading Time: 2min | Thu. 19.03.26. | 20:11
McCarthy announced his 23-man squad for the friendly fixtures, which will see Kenya face Estonia and the winner of Rwanda vs. Grenada
AFC Leopards Secretary General, Isaac Mulindi, has openly criticised Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy over his squad selection for the upcoming FIFA Series international friendlies, set to run from Monday, 23 to Tuesday, 31 March in Kigali, Rwanda.
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Speaking in a video posted by Sports Radar shortly after Ingwe bounced back to winning ways in a 1-0 win over Nairobi United, Mulindi did not hold back, describing the exclusion of Leopards players as a deliberate slight against the club.
“The truth is that these people hate us; they hate AFC Leopards,” he stated. “But we are telling our players to remain unbothered because it is not a must that they play for Harambee Stars. We will look for other means so that other scouts will come to assess them.”
Mulindi’s remarks come barely a week after McCarthy announced his 23-man squad for the friendly fixtures, which will see Kenya face Estonia and the winner of Rwanda vs. Grenada.
Notably, no player from AFC Leopards, currently second on the FKF Premier League log, was included.
“This is deeply frustrating,” Mulindi continued. “We cannot be number two in the league and lack even a single player in the provisional squad.
We are having sleepless nights on how our players will get help, but I speak from my heart: the hatred is there. If they think AFC Leopards is not worth it, I pray that we win the league.”
The exclusion has sparked debate within Kenyan football circles, with former club legend Reginald Asibwa and Kakamega Homeboyz chairman Cleophas Shimanyula voicing their concerns, particularly given the club’s recent surge in the FKF Premier League standings.
Harambee Stars Squad for FIFA Series 2026 Friendlies
Goalkeepers:
Byrne Omondi (Gor Mahia), Brian Bwire (Polokwane City), Ian Otieno (Richards Bay FC)
Defenders:
Frank Odhiambo (Gor Mahia), Aboud Omar (Kenya Police), Sylvester Owino (Gor Mahia), Zak Vyner (Wrexham AFC), Rooney Onyango (Sogndal Fotball), Daniel Sakari (Kenya Police)
Midfielders:
Alpha Onyango (Gor Mahia), Duke Abuya (Young Africans SC), Richard Odada (FC UTA Arad), Chris Erambo (Tusker FC), Manzur Suleiman (Stade de Reims)
Strikers:
Austine Odhiambo (Nejmeh SC), William Lenkupae (Unattached), Job Ochieng (Real Sociedad), Mohammed Bajaber (Simba SC), Zech Obiero (Tranmere Rovers), Clarke Oduor (Grimsby Town), Michael Olunga (Al-Arabi SC), Ryan Ogam (Wolfsberger AC), Lawrence Okoth (SJK Seinäjoki)