Despite praising Benni McCarthy’s Harambee Stars provisional squad for the African Nations Championship (CHAN), former Kenya U15 head coach Leonard Odipo has revealed three players who could have been included. Follow Our WhatsApp Channel For More NewsGor Mahia players demand exit from club after poor seasonOdipo praised the 30-man squad unveiled by head coach Benni McCarthy on Wednesday, 2 July, stating that the quality and balance of the selected players give Kenya a strong chance of going all the way.“The squad is good as per the coach’s selection. Our job is to support the coach to achieve the best for the country. It has good balance and players we’ve seen perform,” said Odipo, who currently manages FKF Division One side Equity FC.##NAJAVA_MECA_9002685##While many Kenyans have raised concerns over some omissions in the squad, Odipo believes all the players called up deserve their places, but he feels three other names could have been considered, fitness permitting.“Maybe Byrne Omondi, the Bandari goalkeeper, I’m not sure about his fitness levels; Ngolo (Biron Otieno) of Kariobangi Sharks, and to some extent Enock Machaka of Nairobi United should have made the list. But otherwise, everyone selected deserves their place,” he stated.Your #HarambeeStars provisional squad for the CAF African Nations Championship pic.twitter.com/4wO8KKDE4y— Harambee Stars (@Harambee__Stars) July 2, 2025 With Kenya co-hosting the CHAN tournament alongside Uganda and Tanzania, Odipo urged fans to put aside their differences and back the team fully.Why winning Mozzart Bet Cup with Nairobi United feels like a first for Karamor“We are hosts, and this comes with its fair share of pressure. We have a chance to do well if we stay focused, composed, and stick to the coach’s game plan. I’m sure the technical bench has a clear objective,” he told Mozzart Sport.The squad is heavily drawn from the 2024/25 FKF Premier League’s top performers, including leading scorers Moses Shummah (17 goals), Emmanuel Osoro (16), and Ryan Ogam (15).The team is scheduled to report to camp on Thursday, 10 July, to begin preparations for Kenya’s debut in the CHAN tournament.Harambee Stars midfielder joins Czech side for pre-season camp eager to make UEFA Champions League debutThe month-long championship, reserved for players exclusively featuring in their domestic leagues, will be staged from Saturday, 2 to Saturday, 30 August.Kenya will open their campaign against DR Congo on Sunday, 3 August, at Kasarani Stadium, before facing Angola, Morocco, and Zambia in the group stage.Kenya last featured in a major continental competition during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), where they were eliminated in the group stage.
