Victor Wanyama returns to Harambee Stars squad to face Chad

Football Kenya Federation (@Harambee_Stars)/X

Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy has recalled Victor Wanyama to the national team ahead of Kenya's international friendly matches against Chad on June 7 and 10.

The 33-year-old Wanyama had confirmed in a recent interview that the former South Africa striker, who took charge of Harambee Stars until the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), had tried to convince him to rescind his retirement decision and play for the national team again.

Wanyama quit playing for Harambee Stars in 2021, after he was overlooked for selection for the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Before his retirement, he had last featured for Kenya in November 2020.

The former Celtic, Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur man captained the national side at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2019, when Kenya finished third in their group behind eventual finalists Algeria and Senegal.

Wanyama made his debut for Harambee Stars in May 2007, aged just 15, in a friendly against Nigeria and he went ahead to play in all six of Kenya’s 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Provisional Squad

Goalkeepers

Faruk Shikhalo (Bandari FC), Sepstianos Wekesa (Kariobangi Sharks FC), Brian Bwire (Polokwane City FC).

Defenders

Siraj Mohammed (Bandari FC), Swaleh Pamba (Bandari FC), Abud Omar (Kenya Police FC), Daniel Sakari (Kenya Police FC), Lewis Bandi (AFC Leopards), Alphonce Omija (Gor Mahia FC), Kenneth Nyamwaya (Bidco United FC), Brian Mandela (Stellenbosch FC).

Midfielders

Victor Wanyama (Dunfermline Athletic FC ), Alpha Onyango (Gor Mahia FC), Timothy Ouma (SK Slavia Prague), Brian Musa (Kenya Police FC), Ben Stanley Omondi (Gor Mahia), Boniface Muchiri (Ulinzi Stars), Mohammed Bajaber (Kenya Police FC), David Sakwa (Bandari FC), James Kinyanjui (KCB FC), Adam Wilson (The New Saints FC), William Lenkupae (Central Coastal Mariners FC).

Forwards

Moses Shumah (Kakamega Homeboyz FC), Beja Nyamawi (Bandari FC), Emmanuel Osoro (FC Talanta).