Harambee Stars U23 head coach Kennedy Odhiambo has named the provisional squad for the upcoming 2024 COSAFA Cup which Kenya has been invited to as a guest participant.The squad is not purely made of players in the U23 bracket given the fact that Odhiambo reserved slots for scores of senior players.Seasoned midfielder Anthony Akumu and Johnstone Omurwa are some of the senior players in the squad that is expected to start training on Thursday.##NAJAVA_MECA_8167923##The tactician, while naming the squad elevated some of the players who starred during the U18 and U20 regional tournaments held in December and March this year respectively.Kakamega Homeboyz goalkeeper Ibrahim Wanzala made the cut so is Kariobangi Sharks midfielder Stanley Wilson.Both were in the U18 and U20 squads.COSAFA reveal key rules, regulations to be followed in 2024 cupU18 captain Amos Wanjala, who is currently attached to Spanish side Nastic Academy, is in the squad alongside his teammate Aldrine Kibet.Bandari youngster William Gitamu and Jeremmy Bissau are the sole player from the Talanta Hela team that traveled to Spain in March, to have made it to the U23 team.Besides calling the youngsters, coach Odhiambo considered players with top-flight experience while naming the squad.Goalkeepers; Bryne Omondi and Brian Bwire, who both have featured for the senior team are in the squad.Tusker left back Boniface Onyango, his teammate Chrispine Erambo, Gor’s Rooney Onyango, and AFC Leopards’ Kayci Odhiambo are some of the players with both top-flight and the senior national team’s experience to be named in the squad.Odhiambo will be deputized by Kariobangi Sharks coach William Muluya. The two tacticians serve as the senior team’s assistant coaches.Michael Olunga provides positive update on MOFA plans to seal Eskilstuna takeoverThe 2024 COSAFA Cup is set to be hosted in South Africa from June 26 to July 7, 2024.Stars are in pool B of the tournament alongside; Zambia, Lesotho, and Zimbabwe.The hosts are in pool A with; Botswana, Mozambique, and Eswatini.Group C has: Seychelles, Angola, Namibia, and ComorosProvisional SquadGoalkeepersBryne Omondi (Bandari), Brian Bwire (Tusker), Sebastian Wekesa (Kariobangi Sharks), Ibrahim Wanzala (Kakamega Homeboyz)DefendersAlphonce Omija (Dhofar, Oman), Paul Ochuoga (Gor Mahia), Boniface Onyango (Tusker), Geoffrey Onyango (Kariobangi Sharks), Hanniff Wesonga (KCB), Amos Wanjala (Nastic Sports Academy, Spain), Johnstone Omurwa (Portugal), Faiz Opande (USA), Baron Ochieng (Sofapaka)MidfieldersWilson Stanley (Kariobangi Sharks), Shariff Musa (Gor Mahia), John Ochieng (Zanaco, Zambia), Anthony Akumu (Unattached), Chrispine Erambo (Tusker), Aldrine Kibet (Nastic Sports, Spain), Bajaber Mohammed (City Stars), Alpha Onyango (Gor Mahia), Austin Odhiambo (Gor Mahia), Rooney Onyango (Gor Mahia), Patrick Otieno (Posta Rangers), Hassan Beja (AFC Leopards), Emmanuel Osoro (Nzoia Sugar), William Gitamu (Bandari), Fortune Omoto (Kariobangi Sharks), Kayci Odhiambo (AFC Leopards)ForwardsBenson Omalla (Gor Mahia), Josphat Lopaga (Dynamo Brest, Belarus), Samuel Kapen (Nairobi City Stars), Moses Shummah (Kakamega Homeboyz), Zech Obiero (Leyton Orient, England), George Gitau (Middlesborough, England), Jeremy Bissau (Brooke House College, England)
