The Harambee Stars have touched down in Kigali, Rwanda, but they’ve left a massive piece of the puzzle behind. In a late-night shocker before their Tuesday departure, it was confirmed that captain and talisman Michael Olunga is among ten key players ruled out of the inaugural FIFA Series 2026.
Head coach Benni McCarthy—who is still navigating the fallout of a bruising 8-0 defeat to Senegal in the team’s last outing—is facing a genuine selection headache. Between a “conflict-related” unavailability for the Qatar-based Olunga and a devastating injury list, this squad looks very different from the one fans expected.
The Missing Icons
It’s not just the skipper. The defensive backbone of the team has been effectively wiped out. Joseph Okumu, Eric “Marcelo” Ouma, and Sylvester Owino are all sidelined with injuries. Even the highly-anticipated debut of Wrexham’s Zak Vyner has been put on ice due to “personal details” needing sorting back in the UK.
The New Guard Steps Up
With the old guard out, McCarthy is throwing the young guns into the deep end. The revised 23-man squad features some fresh faces and returning names looking to cement their spot before the 2027 AFCON:
• Alphonce Omija: The former Gor Mahia man, now in Tunisia with Etoile du Sahel, earns a crucial call-up to steady the backline.
• Ben Stanley: One of the “new faces” brought in to inject some creative energy into the middle of the park.
• Faruk Shikhalo: The veteran keeper returns to the fold to replace the injured Bryne Omondi.
• Zech Obiero: All eyes are on the Tranmere Rovers youngster; this tournament is his big chance to prove he belongs in the Stars’ setup.
The Mission in Kigali
Kenya finds itself in a unique mini-tournament alongside Estonia, Grenada, and hosts Rwanda.
The journey kicks off on Friday, March 27, at the Amahoro Stadium against Estonia. It’s a rare chance to measure Kenyan football against European opposition. Win that, and they face the winner of Rwanda vs. Grenada on March 30. Lose, and it’s a third-place playoff.
McCarthy was blunt during the final training session at Nyayo: “We don’t want the last result to determine where we’re going. This is about putting something positive back in the minds of the fans.” Without Olunga’s goals, the pressure is squarely on the shoulders of Ryan Ogam and Clarke Oduor to find the net.
