- Tournament: CHAN 2024 (August 2–30), hosted by Kenya, Uganda & Tanzania
Kenya’s Opponents: DR Congo, Angola, Morocco, Zambia - Top Forwards: Shummah (17 goals), Osoro (16), Ogam (15)
- New Call-Ups: Keith Imbali, Yakeen Muteheli, Staphod Odhiambo
- Mission: Make a mark on Kenya’s first CHAN appearance
Kenya is gearing up for its first-ever appearance in the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) with head coach Benni McCarthy naming a solid 30-man provisional squad, largely drawn from the FKF Premier League’s top performers.
This year’s CHAN, which only features players active in domestic leagues, will take place from August 2 to August 30 and will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. The Stars begin their journey on August 3 against DR Congo at Nairobi’s Kasarani Stadium.
Kenya’s attacking force is headlined by some of the FKF Premier League’s deadliest finishers. Moses Shummah (Kakamega Homeboyz – 17 goals), Emmanuel Osoro (FC Talanta -16 goals), and Ryan Ogam (Tusker FC – 15 goals) will spearhead the attack.
Also earning a well-deserved call-up is Edward Omondi of Sofapaka after a standout season.
Midfield duties will be anchored by Mohammed Bajaber of Kenya Police, a key creative force. New faces like Keith Imbali (Shabana), Yakeen Muteheli, and Staphod Odhiambo (Ulinzi Stars) bring a fresh spark and pace to the middle of the park.
Coach McCarthy believes this group offers both stability and boldness, critical for this historic outing.
“We picked those who’ve shown consistency. This is not just about CHAN – we’re building a strong base for Kenya’s football future,” the coach noted.
At the back, Gor Mahia’s Alphonce Omija and Sylvester Owino join experienced names like Michael Kibwage (Tusker) and Abud Omar (Kenya Police).
In goal, Faruk Shikhalo (Bandari), Sebastian Wekesa (Kariobangi Sharks), and Brian Opondo (Tusker) will be fighting for the starting spot.
The squad will report to camp on July 10 to begin preparations. This tournament marks Kenya’s biggest continental football appearance since AFCON 2019, and there’s growing hope that home-ground advantage will work in the Stars’ favour.
