Only five local-based players have made Benni McCarthy’s travelling team for Harambee Stars’ pair of 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers this month.As per a final squad exclusively revealed to Mozzart Sport, a large contingent of players plying trade in the FKF Premier League have been axed out of the travelling team that has now been cut down to 25.##NAJAVA_MECA_8780234##The only local-based players elected to travel to Ivory Coast for the Gambia tie on Thursday 20 March include: Farouk Shikhalo, Rooney Onyango, Manzur Okwaro, Ben Stanley Omondi and Mohammed Bajaber.McCarthy, a former attacking coach at Manchester United, has called up a five-man striking force, which features no FKF Premier League player.Why Mohammed Bajaber foresees ‘bright future’ under Benni McCarthyOnly Bajaber and Ben Stanley, who has struggled for game time on loan at Gor Mahia, make up the eight-man midfield.Australian-born midfielder William Lenkupae, who rightly took the headlines when the provisional squad was named, has also not made the team.William Lenkupae: All you need to know about Australian-born Harambee stars midfielderA selection also likely to elicit fan-debate is the absence of in-form midfielder Austin Odhiambo, who is in a list of five Gor Mahia players who have been left out altogether.The other K’Ogalo players joining the reigning FKFPL Most Valuable Player out of the team include: Sylvester Owino, Alphonce Omija, Lawrence Juma and Alpha Onyango.How Benni McCarthy wants strikers to play at Harambee StarsThe final 25-man squad is set to leave the country on Tuesday 18 March.TRAVELLING SQUAD:Goalkeepers: Ian Otieno, Brian Bwire, Faruk ShikhaloDefenders: Joseph Okumu (CB), Jonestone Omurwa (CB), Brian Mandela (CB), Collins Sichenje (CB), Daniel Anyembe (RB), Amos Nondi (RB), Erick Ouma (LB), Manzur Okwaro (LB), Ronney Onyango (RB)Midfielders: Anthony Akumu (CDM), Richard Odada (CDM), Ismael Gonzalez (CDM), Timothy Ouma ( AM), Eric Johana (AM), Duke Abuya (AM), Mohammed Bajaber (AM), Ben Stanley Omondi (AM)Forwards: Masud Juma, Jonah Ayunga, Elvis Rupia, John Avire, Michael Olunga
