Exciting England Based Duo Named in Harambee Stars Squad for Sierra Leone Tie

Kenyan forward features as Sutton United fall to Bohemians

Harambee Stars Coach has named England based duo of Jonah Ayunga and Henry Ochieng’ in his 30 man provisional squad for the crucial AFCON qualifier against Sierra Leone next month.

Ayunga is a striker with Sutton United a team that plays in the English National League, which is the 5th tier of English Football. He was on the books of EPL side Brighton Hove and Albion before being released in May this year.

19 year old Henry Ochieng, also plays in the National League with newly promoted Braintree town. According to details, Ochieng is an exciting midfielder who learned his trade at the West Ham academy. Born to Kenyan parents, Sam and Perez Ochieng, Henry is eligible to play for the national team.

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Coach Migne wants to asses the two newcomers for future assignments as the national team gears up for a place in the next years AFCON to be staged in Cameroon.

Sierra Leone remains suspended by world governing body Fifa owing to the government’s interference with football maters in the West African country and it remains unclear if Fifa could lift the suspension.

Beijing Renhe forward Ayub Timbe also returns to the team after completing his three-match suspension and is expected to provide more options in the flanks beyond Eric Johanna, Ovella Ochieng’ and Paul Were.

Another notable name in the team sheet is that of USA based defender Joseph Okumu. He will be trying to dislodge the formidable duo of Brian Mandela and Musa Mohammed who played in the double header against Ethiopia without conceding a goal.

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Another returnee is Masud Juma, who last turned out for the team in the 2017 Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup final against Zanzibar. He now plies his trade with UAE side Dibba Al Fujairah.

Reigning KPL midfielder of the year Cliff Nyakeya has also been rewarded with a call-up having scored 14 goals for Mathare United last season.

The rest of the team remains unchanged with all the players who did duty against Ethiopia called up. Kenya is also set to play a friendly match against a yet to be named opponent during the November 12-20 international window.

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Provisional Squad

Goalkeepers

Patrick Matasi (St Georges, Ethiopia), Farouk Shikalo (Bandari, Kenya), Brian Bwire (Kariobangi Sharks, Kenya)

Defenders

Musa Mohammed (Nkana FC, Zambia), Brian Mandela (Maritzburg United, South Africa), David Ochieng (IF Brommapojkarna, Sweden), Abud Omar (Cercle Brugge, Belgium), Erick Ouma (Vasalund, Sweden), Joseph Okumu (Real Monarchs, USA), Philemon Otieno (Gor Mahia, Kenya), Bernard Ochieng (Vihiga United, Kenya), Joash Onyango (Gor Mahia, Kenya)

Midfielders

Ismael Gonzalez (Las Palmas, Spain), Victor Wanyama (Tottenham Hotspurs, England), Anthony Akumu (Zesco United, Zambia), Ayub Timbe (Beijing Renhe, China), Johanna Omollo (Cercle Brugge, Belgium), Eric Johanna (IF Brommapojkarna, Sweden), Paul Were (FC Kaisar, Kazakhstan), Henry Ochieng (Braintree Town, England), Francis Kahata (Gor Mahia, Kenya), Hassan Abdallah (Bandari, Kenya), Cliff Nyakeya (Mathare United, Kenya), Dennis Odhiambo (Sofapaka, Kenya)

Forwards

Michael Olunga (Kashiwa Reysol, Japan), Jonah Ayunga (Sutton United, England), Masud Juma (Aj Fujairah, UAE), Ovella Ochieng (Vasalund, Sweden), Allan Wanga (Kakamega Homeboyz, Kenya), Piston Mutamba (Sofapaka, Kenya)

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