Wanyama hints at playing for Kenya again after McCarthy talks

Photo Credit - FKF Media.

Former Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama has revealed that coach Benni McCarthy has reached out to him and 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, this time for the 2022 World Cup qualifiers. Before his retirement, he had last featured for Kenya in November, 2020.

However, Wanyama has confirmed he will soon make an announcement about a possible return to play for the national team under the guidance of McCarthy.

“Things have changed,” said Wanyama as quoted by BBC Sports Africa. “The way the federation manages the players and the national team, so that has already convinced me.”

He continued: “I’ve spoken to him [McCarthy] a few times and he was trying to convince me to go back. He’s a big manager. He has been at Manchester United.

“Obviously, he's experienced and he's the one that Kenya needs. I'm thinking about it and very soon I’ll be making an announcement.”

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.