The Kenyan national football team, Harambee Stars, is set to face Chad in a pair of international friendly matches at the Stade de Marrakech in Morocco.
The first of these encounters will take place on Saturday, June 7, with a second match scheduled for Tuesday, June 10, at the same venue. This will be the third and fourth outings for coach Benni McCarthy in charge of the Harambee Stars.
The South African football legend supervised his initial two matches during Kenya’s participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers back in March. Kenya, which is in Group F, played their fifth match against Gambia away from home, resulting in a dramatic 3-3 draw, before returning to suffer a 2-1 loss to Gabon on home soil.
When will Kenya play against Chad and where can you tune in?
The first friendly match against Chad is slated for Saturday, June 7 at Stade de Marrakech, kicking off at 18:00 Kenyan time. The second match will also be held at the same venue on Tuesday, June 10, with a similar kick-off time.
Kenya’s squad for the friendly fixtures
Following the injury of Mohammed Bajaber from Kenya Police FC, coach McCarthy has assembled a squad of 23 players for the matches. In goal, his options include Brian Bwire, Faruk Shikalo, and Septianos Wekesa.
The defenders selected are Brian Mandela, Alphonce Omija, Sylvester Owino, Siraj Mohammed, Abud Omar, Daniel Sakari, Swaleh Pamba, and Lewis Bandi. Midfielders include Brian Musa, Alpha Onyango, Austine Odhiambo, Ben Stanley Omondi, Boniface Muchiri, William Lenkupae, Adam Wilson, James Kinyanjui, and David Sakwa.
Strikers in Morocco will consist of Beja Nyamawi, Moses Shumah, and Emmanuel Osoro. Although coach McCarthy had previously brought former captain Victor Wanyama out of retirement, the ex-Tottenham Hotspur midfielder declined the invitation due to family obligations in the UK.
McCarthy has stated that Wanyama will be considered for future selections, urging fans to respect the seasoned player.
“It was an opportunity to reinstate someone of his calibre back in the national team and for younger players to learn from him, given his experience at the highest level,” McCarthy explained.
“He’s not only played at an elite level, but he has also accomplished so much, which underscored my decision to include Wanyama. Unfortunately, family commitments prevented his participation this time around, but I’m certain there will be other chances.”
Kenyan players eager to face Chad
Assistant coach Anthony Kimnai has expressed confidence in the team’s preparedness to square off against Chad in the two friendly matches. This will be Kenya’s inaugural meeting with Chad in competitive play.
“The players are keen and eager to show the coach their desire to represent the nation come June 7 against Chad. It’s a good position to be in for the technical team,” Kimnai noted.
On team selection, he remarked: “We have assembled the best squad available and, as the coach mentioned, there is room for more players to step in. Those selected now have a significant opportunity to prove themselves and secure a place in future selections.
“This doesn’t mean we’ve shut the door; the national team is always a dynamic environment. Any player consistently performing well is likely to catch the coach’s attention and could earn a spot going forward.”
In a message to the fans prior to the friendlies, Kimnai expressed gratitude for their unwavering support: “First and foremost, thank you. Your backing has been essential for the team. I strongly encourage you to keep it up, as the players are working tirelessly and the technical staff is doing their utmost to achieve positive results. I assure you we will strive not to disappoint.”
While Kenya’s last two matches concluded with a draw and a loss, Chad has faced challenges in their World Cup qualifiers, suffering two defeats: a heavy 5-0 loss to Ghana and a narrow 1-0 loss to Comoros at the Stade Municipal de Berkane.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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