Austine, Bajaber left out as McCarthy names final Harambee Stars World Cup qualifiers squad
Austine Odhiambo and Eric “Marcelo” Ouma will not feature for Harambee Stars in the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers..
✨ Key Highlights
Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy has announced his 23-man squad for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against The Gambia and Seychelles, notably omitting key players like Austine Odhiambo and Eric “Marcelo” Ouma.
- Odhiambo, a midfielder for Gor Mahia, was a joint top scorer for Kenya at the recent African Nations Championship (CHAN) with two goals.
- Left back Eric “Marcelo” Ouma is out due to an injury sustained while playing for his Polish club, Raków Częstochowa.
- The squad includes several foreign-based players such as captain Michael Olunga, midfielder Richard Odada, and defender Collins Sichenje, with 22-year-old Job Ochieng receiving his first senior call-up.
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Kenyan Teams Learn Qualifier Fates; India Faces Potential FIFA Ban - August 2025
Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy announced his 23-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against The Gambia and Seychelles, omitting key players like Austine Odhiambo and Eric Ouma. In women's football, Kenya Police Bullets were drawn against Kampala Queens and Eritrea’s Denden SC in Group A of the 2025 CAF Women’s Champions League CECAFA qualifiers. Meanwhile, FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have demanded that India implement a new constitution by October 30. Failure to do so could result in a second global football ban in three years, barring Indian teams from all international competitions.
