Coach Firat names provisional squad for AFCON qualifiers

Aug 27, 2024 - 12:22

By Peter Ochieng

Kenya national football team, Harambee Stars Coach Engin Firat has named the provisional squad for the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Zimbabwe and Namibia.

The matches are set to be played between September 02, and September 10, 2024.

The provisional squad, as shared by the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has a blend of local and internationally-based players.

Captain Michael Ogada Olunga, Joseph Okumu, Timothy Ouma, Eric Johanna, Eric Ouma, Amos Nondi, Richard Odada, Jonah Ayunga, John Avire and Teddy Akumu, are some of the players forming the foreign-based contingent.

Provisional Squad

Goalkeepers: Ian Otieno (Richards Bay FC), Patrick Matasi (Kenya Police), Byrne Omondi (Bandari)

Defenders: Collins Sichenje (Vodvojina), Joseph Okumu (Reims-France), Johnstone Omurwa, Amos Nondi (Ararat), Abud Omar (Kenya Police), Eric Ouma (Rakow-Poland), Sylvester Owino (Gor Mahia), Alphonce Omija (Gor Mahia)

Midfielders: Kayci Odhiambo (AFC Leopards), Chris Erambo (Tusker), Richard Odada (Dundee United), Anthony Akumu (Kheybar), Kenneth Muguna (Kenya Police), Eric Johanna (UTA-Romania), Ronney Onyango (Gor Mahia), Austine Odhiambo (Gor Mahia), Patrick Otieno (KCB), Duke Abuya (Young Africans), Timothy Ouma (Elfsberg)

Forwards: John Avire (P. Suez), Michael Olunga (Duhail-Oman), Jonah Ayunga (ST. Mirren-Scotland), Benson Omalla (Safa SC), Victor Omune (AFC Leopards)

Kenya is in group J, alongside Cameroon, Zimbabwe and Namibia. A total of 48 nations were drawn into 12 groups of 4, with the top two finishers in the eleven (11) groups that do not involve tournament hosts Morocco, set to gain qualification to the competition.

The 48 nations will vie for the 24 places that will contest the 35th edition of Africa’s most prestigious competition. The qualifiers will start in September 2024 and end in November 2024.

There will be two qualifying match days in September, two in October and the final two in November.

2025 AFCON Qualifier groups:

Group A: Tunisia, Madagascar, Comoros, Gambia

Group B: Morocco, Gabon,Central Africa Republic, Lesotho

Group C: Egypt, Cape Verde, Mauritania, Botswana

Group D: Nigeria, Benin Libya, Rwanda

Group E: Algeria, Equatorial Guinea, Togo, Liberia

Group F: Ghana, Angola, Sudan, Niger

Group G: Côte d’Ivoire, Zambia, Sierra Leone, Chad

Group H: DR Congo, Guinea, Tanzania, Ethiopia

Group I: Mali, Mozambique, Guinea Bissau, Eswatini

Group J: Cameroon, Namibia, Kenya, Zimbabwe