By OUR CORRESPONDENT
The national team Harambee Stars departs on Wednesday for Doha, Qatar ahead of their first friendly against Qatar.
Harambee Stars is scheduled to face Qatar on Thursday evening. Stars will fly back home on Friday, in time for their second friendly against South Sudan on Tuesday.
The Kenya National team stepped up their preparations at Moi International Sports Center Kasarani.
These friendlies serve as crucial preparation for their upcoming competitive assignment, the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
In this tournament, they are placed in Group F alongside Seychelles, Burundi, Gambia, Gabon, and Côte d’Ivoire. The first leg of the two-legged qualifiers is scheduled to be played between November 13th and 21st, 2023.
On Monday, head coach Engin Firat hailed the friendly matches saying they are key in preparation for the World Cup qualifiers.
“So far, we have secured friendly matches against Iran and Qatar which are World Cup teams. At the same time, we played against Mauritius and Pakistan, and all these are steps that we needed to take,” he told reporters during a press conference. He defended his selection saying he has given home based players a chance to play for the national team.
He added: “I have used different players in different formations just to see how they work together. After all, that’s the meaning of friendlies.”
Provisional Squad
Goalkeepers
Ian Otieno (Zesco, Zambia), Byrne Odhiambo (KCB), Patrick Matasi (Kenya Police FC)
Defenders
Collins Sichenje (AIK, Sweden), Joseph Okumu (Stade Reims, France), Brian Mandela (Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa), Johnstone Omurwa (Estrela, Portugal), David Ochieng (Kenya Police), Daniel Anyembe (Viborg, Denmark), Eric Ouma (AIK, Sweden), Amos Nondi (Ararat, Armenia), Abud Omar (Kenya Police), Clarke Oduor (England)
Midfielders
Richard Odada (AaB, Denmark), Teddy Akumu (Sagan Tosu, Japan), Kenneth Muguna (Kenya Police), Timothy Ouma (IF Elfsborg, Sweden), Duke Abuya (Singida Fountain Gate, Tanzania), Abdallah Hassan (Bandari), Ayub Masika (Nanjing City Football Club, China), Alfred Scriven (IL Hødd, Norway), Austin Odhiambo (Gor Mahia), Stanley Wilson (Kariobangi Sharks)
Forwards
Moses Shummah (Kakamega Homeboyz), Elvis Rupia (Kenya Police), Michael Olunga (Al Duhail, Qatar), Masud Juma (Al Jabalain, Saudi Arabia)
