Kenya national team coach Benni McCarthy was forced to reshuffle his team by recalling the striker Masoud Juma for the next Cecafa Four Nations tournament to be held in Tanzania.
Harambee stars left on Saturday for Arusha before the tournament, where they will display their preparations for the African Nations Championship (Chan) 2024 which will be co-organized by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania from August 2 to 30.
Kenya heads for the tournament after losing two key attackers – Moses Shumah and Emmanuel Osoro – both who have become inadmissible to appear in the tournament after having signed permanent contracts of two years with the Dynamos of the Power Dynamos of Zambian Super League.
The unexpected departure of Shumah, who was the top scorer of the Premier League of the Kenya Football Federation (FKF), who has just concluded, with 17 goals for Kakamega Homeboyz, followed by Osoro, who scored 16 goals and provided seven assists for FC Talanta, left the South African legend without any option to add a new face to his department strike.
McCarthy is now contented with Juma, who is not attached after having separated from the Iranian Esteghlal Sport Club outfit. The experienced Juma, which has already won 22 selections for Harambee stars and has scored eight goals, will fight for the starting role alongside Boniface Mudiri, Felix Uluoch, Mohammed Bajaber, David Sakwa, Ryan Ogam and Austin Odongo.
Farouk Shikalo, alongside Byrne Omondi and Sepstianos Wekesa, was kept in the goalkeeper service while the defensive line includes Siraj Mohammed, Manzur Suleiman, Pamba Swaleh, Abud Omar, Alphonce Omija, Sylvester Owino, Michael Kibwage, Daniel Sakari, and Kevin.
The midfielder will see a mixture of young people and experience with Brian Musa, Alpha Onyango, Austin Odhiambo, Ben Stanley and Marvin Nabwire who should provide creativity and control in the middle of the park.
The Cecafa Four Nations tournament, which will attract Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and Guest Senegal, will take place from July 21 to 27 in Karatu, in the Arusha region in Tanzania. The Congo Brazzaville was earlier aligned to adorn the tournament, but they withdrew logistical problems and were replaced by Senegal.
According to the Executive Director of the Council of Football Associations of East and Central Africa (CECAFA), John Gecheo, the tournament will be used as a warm -up before the Chan tournament.
“”The main objective of this competition is to offer our zonal teams a valuable platform to prepare adequately before the African Nations Championship (Chan) scheduled for August 2025“Said Gecheo in a recent interview.
McCarthy welcomed the tournament, saying that he came at the right time to assess the preparation of his players before the Chan. “”It is a good tournament to assess our preparation for Chan. We are going to face great opponents and that will clearly show us what works and what to be repaired“Said McCarthy.
The mini-tournoi will see each team play three games in a format around, and the team with the most points will emerge from the winners. Kenya will open its campaign against the regional rivals of Ugandan cranes on Monday July 21 at 3 p.m., before facing Tanzanie hosts on Thursday July 24 at 4 p.m.
The stars will conclude their group matches with a confrontation against Senegal on Sunday July 27 at 1 p.m. All matches will be played at Karatu Stadium in Arusha. Uganda and Sudan will open procedures during the start at the start of Thursday, July 24, before the Harambee stars faced a fiery test against Tanzania later the same day.
HARAMBEE Squad Stars
Goalkeepers: Farouk Shikalo, Byrne Omondi, Sepstianos Wekesa.
Defenders: Siraj Mohammed, Manzur Suleiman, Pamba Swaleh, Abud Omar, Alphonce Omija, Sylvester Owino, Michael Kibwage, Daniel Sakari, Lewis Bandi, Kevin Okumu.
Milieuseurs de field: Brian Musa, Alpha Onyango, Austin Odhiambo, Ben Stanley, Marvin Nabwire.
Advances: Masud Juma, Boniface Mudiri, Felix Ooluoch, Mohammed Bajaber, David Sakwa, Ryan Ogam, Austin Odongo.
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