The national team, Harambee Stars are set to face Chad in the first of back-to-back friendly matches today, Saturday 7 June in Marrakech, Morocco.The two international friendlies are part of Kenya’s preparations ahead of the upcoming 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) that is scheduled for Saturday 2 August 2025 to Saturday 30 August.Follow our WhatsApp channel for more newsKenya’s coach Benni McCarthy carried with him a squad largely composed of local-based players who are eligible for CHAN, and a few foreign-based players for leadership.McCarthy is therefore largely expected to field local based players with their foreign-based counterparts getting limited playing time.Harambee Stars assistant coach defends Benni McCarthy’s squad selectionThe local-based players are expected to form the core of the CHAN team, and will also be tasked with guiding the younger players who will be added to the team after the two friendlies.While McCarthy will not have the services of former Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama in the game, the 47-year-old can rely on his replacement, Gor Mahia star Austin Odhiambo, for creativity in the team.##NAJAVA_MECA_8966947##Chad on poor formAhead of the clash, Kenya will gain confidence from the fact that Chad have been poor in friendlies in recent years.The Central African nation is currently on a 12 match winless streak, with the latest three of them being a hat trick of losses.Their last win can be traced back to March 2014 – a second-leg win over Mauritius in an AFCON qualifier match.3 wins in 9 years, analysing Harambee Stars’ opponents ChadPrior to that, Chad had not won any match in over five years – a total 16 games, making them an easy opponent on paper.On their part, Kenya are on a three-match winless streak, and were on a seven-match run without a win prior to their victory over Tanzania in the Mapinduzi Cup.Inside McCarthy’s main focus areas in Harambee Stars friendlies against ChadHead-to-headOn the global arena, Kenya are ranked in position 111 by FIFA, while Chad are 177th on the FIFA rankings.Today’s encounter is the first ever meeting between the two sides, and both will be aiming for a victory that would boost their respective confidence.The match kicks off at 1800 hrs (EAT) at Stade de Marrakech.4 foreign-based players included in Benni McCarthy’s final Harambee Stars squad to MoroccoKenya’s Full squadGoalkeepers: Brian Bwire, Faruk Shikalo, Sepstianos WekesaDefenders: Brian Mandela, Alphoce Omija, Sylvester Owino, Siraj Mohammed, Abud Omar, Daniel Sakari, Swaleh Pamba, Lewis BandiMidfielders: Brian Musa, Alpha Onyango, Austine Odhiambo, Ben Stanley Omondi, Boniface Muchiri, William Lenkupae, Adam Wilson, James Kinyanjui, David SakwaForwards: Beja Nyamawi, Moses Shumah, Emmanuel Osoro.
