Sweden based Christopher Mbamba alongside Clube Olimpico do Montijo’s Clifton Miheso are both among the players dropped by Harambee Stars coach Sebastien Migne ahead of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) set to begin on 21st July in Cairo, Egypt.
Other players dropped by the French tactician are Maritzburg United’s Brian Mandela and Zesco United’s Anthony Akumu. Mandela had initially been confirmed to miss the tournament after picking up an injury in training on Monday.
Akumu joins his Zesco United teammate Jesse Were who was never called to the squad in the first place, an act that led to controversy as many thought he should have been included. Migne, however, defended his actions saying Were did not have what it takes to make the squad despite being among the top scorers in Zambia.
[Read: Migne drops two top scorers from Stars AFCON squad]
Miheso’s selection was not welcomed by some Kenyans who said that the player has not been getting enough playtime or rather no one knows if he does. Miheso has been a frequent member of the Harambee Stars team but his career started taking a dive after his contract was terminated by South African club Golden Arrows.
Christopher Mbamba, on the other hand, had just made his first call up to the Kenyan national team but will seemingly have to wait longer to play his first competitive match for Kenya. Mbamba is born of a Kenyan mother and a Zimbabwean father but he has never played for Kenya as he featured for the Swedish Under 20 team when he was still a teenager based in Sweden.
Injury threatened defenders Aboud Omar and Musa Mohamed have been included in the list. Vice-captain Musa Mohamed had picked up a knock durig Harambee Stars’ friendly match against Madagascar on Friday. Aboud limped off late in the match.
Stars will play their second and final friendly match against DR Congo before they jet to Egypt for the continental tourney. They will play their first match at the tournament on 23rd July against Algeria.
Kenya was pooled alongside Algeria, Senegal and Tanzania in Group C of the competition.
[See also: Mwendwa responds to critics on AFCON team selection]
HARAMBEE STARS FINAL AFCON SQUAD
Goalkeepers
Patrick Matasi(St. Georges, Ethiopia), Farouk Shikalo (Bandari FC, Kenya), John Oyemba (Kariobangi Sharks, Kenya)
Defenders
David Owino (Zesco, United, Zambia), Musa Mohammed (Nkana FC, Zambia), Bernard Ochieng (Vihiga United, Kenya), Joseph Okumu (Real Monarchs SLC, USA), Joash Onyango (Gor Mahia, Kenya), Eric Ouma (Vasalund IF, Sweden), Aboud Omar (Sepsi Sfântu, Romania), Philemon Otieno (Gor Mahia, Kenya).
Midfielders
Victor Wanyama (Tottenham Hotspurs, England), Ismael Gonzalez (Las Palmas, Spain), Dennis Odhiambo (Sofapaka FC, Kenya), Johanna Omollo (Cercle Brugge, Belgium), Francis Kahata (Gor Mahia, Kenya), Paul Were (AFC Leopards, Kenya), Eric Johanna (IF Bromma, Sweden), Ovella Ochieng (IF Vasalund, Sweden), Ayub Timbe (Beijing Renhe, China)
Forwards
Michael Olunga (Kashiwa Resyol, Japan), Masoud Juma (Al Nasr, Libya), John Avire (Sofapaka FC, Kenya)
[Read: Author tells of his journey to chronicling Kenya’s football intrigues]
