The naming of Harambee Stars’ provisional squad for the upcoming African Nations Championship (CHAN) has drawn a wave of mixed reactions from Kenyan football fans, with many questioning the criteria used by new coach Benni McCarthy in selecting the team.McCarthy, who took over the reins earlier this year, unveiled the squad on Wednesday, 2 July.Follow Our WhatsApp Channel For More NewsKenya will co-host the tournament from Saturday, 2 to Saturday, 30 August alongside Uganda and Tanzania, with all Group A matches, featuring Kenya, DR Congo, Morocco, Angola, and Zambia, set to be staged at the newly renovated Kasarani Stadium.While the selection marks the beginning of preparations for what is expected to be a milestone tournament on home soil, fans took to social media to voice their discontent over some of the names missing and included.Shumah in as McCarthy names Harambee Stars squad for CHANOne of the most discussed exclusions was Shabana FC’s forward Brian Michira, who has been a standout player this season.Michira ended the 2024/25 campaign with 17 goals and 8 assists across competitions, including 12 in the FKF Premier League and five in the Mozzart Bet Cup, where he emerged as the Golden Boot winner.Despite his exploits, Michira was not named in the squad, an omission that sparked heated online debate.By Thursday, 3 July morning, the talented forward was trending on X (formerly Twitter), with fans accusing selectors of bias and favoritism.##NAJAVA_MECA_9000764##“The coach never attended any Shabana match. That means there are people still assisting in making the shortlist. Michira would easily be on that list,” claimed fan Edwin Mmoja Mkenya.Another supporter, Atuti Tiberius, echoed similar sentiments.“I think some people have personal reasons with Shabana. They have overlooked the players for a long time. Let us speak the truth. Austin Odongo and Brian Michira deserve a call-up,” he offered.Also drawing attention was the inclusion of Matthias Isogol, a former Mara Sugar midfielder now at KCB. Isogol is currently recovering from a groin injury, and a recent video posted by his club showed him in the gym working to regain fitness.“If Mathias Isogol is still recovering, it’s highly questionable why he has been named in the Harambee Stars squad. Selecting a player who is not match-fit puts the team at a disadvantage. Kenya has too much talent to be sidelined by politics or favoritism,” wrote fan Jota Mutise.Why winning Mozzart Bet Cup with Nairobi United feels like a first for KaramorThe selection has sparked polarizing views across the football community. While some have criticized the process, others have urged fans to trust the coach.“You cannot choose everybody. Let the coach work with the players he sees fit,” wrote Asima Asigo.“McCarthy knows why he did not pick some players. He is the coach—let us give him time. Football is not as easy as you guys think. Players are in form, but there are those with quality, experience, and class,” Rao James added.Amid the heated online debate, preparations for the CHAN tournament are in full swing. The refurbished Kasarani Stadium was officially handed over to the Local Organising Committee (LOC) this week. It will not only host Kenya’s matches but also the tournament’s final on Saturday, 30 August.Harambee Stars will kick off their campaign at Kasarani against DR Congo on Sunday, 3 August.##NAJAVA_MECA_9003307##
