Benni McCarthy hands five new faces chance in Kenya squad for June friendlies

Kenya head coach Benni McCarthy has injected fresh energy into his Harambee Stars setup, naming five uncapped players in his squad for June’s international friendlies as he begins shaping a team for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The former South Africa striker has handed call-ups to winger Sammy Henia-Kamau of Hull City, Stoke City defender Sydney Agina, Wealdstone duo Deonysus Woodman and Micah Obiero, as well as ADO Den Haag goalkeeper Caleb Kramer. 

The quintet will be part of the squad set to face Kyrgyzstan on June 3 before taking on Palestine three days later in matches designed to sharpen the team’s competitive edge.

McCarthy’s selection reflects a deliberate shift towards youth and depth, with 17-year-old Agina among the standout inclusions. The defender has been gradually integrated into Stoke City’s senior environment, earning five Championship appearances after signing his first professional contract in 2025. 

His steady rise, including a debut against Ipswich Town, signals the coach’s willingness to trust emerging talent at the international level.

Up front, Obiero arrives in confident form after an impressive campaign in England’s National League, where he scored 14 goals for Wealdstone. 

The London-born forward, son of former Kenyan international Henry Obiero, continues to build a reputation as a reliable finisher. His development path, which included an early senior debut at Huddersfield, has made him one of the more intriguing attacking options in the squad.

The call-ups also extend to Woodman and Kramer, both expected to provide competition and depth in defence and goalkeeping respectively, as McCarthy evaluates options across all departments.

Alongside the new faces, experienced defender Erick Ouma Otieno returns after injury, offering a timely boost to the backline. The Rakow Czestochowa player missed Kenya’s previous outing during the FIFA Series but is now back in contention as the team resumes preparations.

Kenya heads into the friendlies on the back of a mixed FIFA Series campaign in Rwanda, where they finished third. 

A 3-0 victory over Grenada secured a positive ending, though their hopes of reaching the final were dashed by a penalty shootout defeat to Estonia following a 1-1 draw.

The upcoming fixtures will mark Kenya’s first-ever meetings with both Kyrgyzstan and Palestine, adding an element of novelty to the tests.

Kenya’s full squad:

Goalkeepers: Byrne Omondi, Faruk Shikhalo, Caleb Kramer

Defenders: Erick Ouma, Stanley Wilson, Sylvester Owino, Frank Odhiambo, Alphonce Omija, Deon Woodman, Rooney Onyango, Sydney Agina

Midfielders: Richard Odada, Chris Erambo, Clarke Odour, Will Lenkupae, Austine Odhiambo, Zech Obiero

Strikers: Job Ochieng, Mohammed Bajaber, Ben Stanley, Sammy Hena-Kamau, Micah Obiero, Ryan Ogam, Lawrence Okoth