Harambee Stars head coach Engin Firat announced plans to make changes to the squad for their upcoming trip to Kampala, where they will face South Sudan in the return leg of the 2025 Africa Nations Championship qualifier this Sunday.
Firat aims to use this match as an opportunity to test fresh talent, preparing a competitive squad for the tournament Kenya will co-host in February.
“We’ll definitely introduce new players. From the outset, we identified 45 players, and we’ll make significant changes for the second leg. This is a chance to evaluate these players and see what they bring to the team,” Firat explained.
Though Kenya’s qualification is secure as one of the tournament hosts, Firat sees these matches as vital for building squad depth. “We need to bring home better results. Even though the outcome won’t affect our qualification, we’re going out to win. This game allows us to assess new talent and determine who might be ready to step into the main team in the future,” he added.
Among those expected to make their national team debut are Tusker FC’s Charles Momanyi and striker Ryan Ogam. Momanyi has contributed three goals and an assist in seven games, while Ogam has scored five goals in just four matches, making them promising additions to the lineup.
The Stars fell to a 2-0 defeat in the first leg in Juba last Sunday, leaving them needing a win by three or more goals to advance to the next stage. Reflecting on that loss, Firat noted that South Sudan’s motivation was a decisive factor, as they continue to push for qualification.
This upcoming fixture offers Firat and the Stars a valuable testing ground as they aim to bounce back and prepare for the continental tournament.
