UPDATE: Joseph Okumu, Collins Sichenje dropped from Harambee Stars travelling squad
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Reading Time: 2min | Mon. 17.03.25. | 13:29
The former attacking coach at Manchester United has also called up a five-man striking force that features no FKF Premier League player
Stade de Reims defender Joseph Okumu and his FK Vojvodina counterpart Collins Sichenje have been dropped from the Harambee Stars travelling squad to face The Gambia in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
As per the final squad shared by Harambee Stars, a large contingent of players plying trade in the FKF Premier League have been axed out of the travelling team that has now been cut down to 23.
The reason for dropping Okumu and Sichenje is however still not yet clear as the federation and head coach Benni McCarthy are yet to face the press.
The only local-based players elected to travel to Ivory Coast for the Gambia tie on Thursday 20 March include: Farouk Shikhalo, Rooney Onyango, Manzur Okwaro, Ben Stanley Omondi and Mohammed Bajaber.
McCarthy, a former attacking coach at Manchester United, has called up a five-man striking force, which features no FKF Premier League player.
Only Bajaber and Ben Stanley, who has struggled for game time on loan at Gor Mahia, make up the eight-man midfield.
Australian-born midfielder William Lenkupae, who rightly took the headlines when the provisional squad was named, has also not made the team.
A selection also likely to elicit fan-debate is the absence of in-form midfielder Austin Odhiambo, who is in a list of five Gor Mahia players who have been left out altogether.
The other K'Ogalo players joining the reigning FKFPL Most Valuable Player out of the team include: Sylvester Owino, Alphonce Omija, Lawrence Juma and Alpha Onyango.
The final 25-man squad is set to leave the country on Tuesday 18 March.
TRAVELLING SQUAD:
Goalkeepers: Ian Otieno, Brian Bwire, Faruk Shikhalo
Defenders: Joseph Okumu (CB), Jonestone Omurwa (CB), Brian Mandela (CB), Collins Sichenje (CB), Daniel Anyembe (RB), Amos Nondi (RB), Erick Ouma (LB), Manzur Okwaro (LB), Ronney Onyango (RB)
Midfielders: Anthony Akumu (CDM), Richard Odada (CDM), Ismael Gonzalez (CDM), Timothy Ouma ( AM), Eric Johana (AM), Duke Abuya (AM), Mohammed Bajaber (AM), Ben Stanley Omondi (AM)
Forwards: Masud Juma, Jonah Ayunga, Elvis Rupia, John Avire, Michael Olunga
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