Could these two German-born Kenyan wonderkids help solve a long standing problem in Harambee Stars' attack under incoming South African coach Benni McCarthy?

For the longest time, the Kenya National Football Team, Harambee Stars, has struggled to establish reliable options in the wide attacking positions.

 Ayub Timbe has been the only consistent presence on the flanks, but his frequent injury setbacks have often left the team struggling to stretch opposition defenses.

While numerous players have been tested—including foreign-born players like former Newcastle United winger Adam Wilson, who has yet to make his debut—Kenya is still in search of a permanent solution.

Step forward the German-born duo of Maik Nelson Afri Akumu and Quincy Mbugua, both of whom are rising through the ranks at Hertha Berlin. 

Could these two youngsters finally be the answer to Harambee Stars' long-term problems on the wings with Benni McCarthy set to take over as the new national team boss? Pulse Sports gets you in the know

Could these German-Born Hertha BSC wonderkids solve Harambee Stars’ longstanding wing problems under Benni McCarthy?

Maik Nelson Afri Akumu

Maik Nelson Afri Akumu is one of the most exciting young prospects in German football. The winger, born on July 14, 2008, in Berlin to a Kenyan father and an English mother, holds dual citizenship in Germany and Poland.

 He primarily plays as a left winger but is also capable of operating on the right wing or as a center-forward. Standing at 1.84 meters, Akumu possesses the physicality and agility necessary to excel in wide positions.

The teenager has progressed through Hertha Berlin’s youth ranks and currently features for both the U19 and U21 teams.

 On January 21, 2025, he played 45 minutes for Hertha Berlin U21 in their 4-2 victory over Norwich City U21, highlighting his growing influence in the squad.

Internationally, Akumu has represented Germany at the U17 level, earning three caps. Most notably, he scored an 86th-minute winner in Germany’s 2-1 victory over Portugal on January 11, 2025. 

During the 2023/2024 season with Hertha BSC U17, he made 15 appearances, scoring four goals and receiving four yellow cards over 749 minutes.

 In the 2024/2025 season, he progressed to the U19 side, where he has played three matches, scoring once in 216 minutes. Additionally, he featured in two matches in the DFB-Pokal der Junioren, scoring one goal in 180 minutes.

Akumu’s speed, dribbling skills, and ability to take on defenders in one-on-one situations make him a valuable attacking asset. His ability to cut inside and either shoot or create scoring opportunities mirrors the style of elite wingers in modern football.

Given the shortage of quality wingers in the Kenyan national team, persuading Akumu to switch his international allegiance to Kenya could be a game-changing move.

 His experience in Germany’s highly structured youth system has given him an edge in technical and tactical development—an advantage that many local players lack.

Former Harambee Stars head coach Engin Firat has repeatedly emphasised the importance of having effective wingers to ease the attacking burden on captain Michael Olunga.

“Look, the problem is bigger. It is not so simple. If you recall my press conferences, I am always talking about the wings,” he told Passion Sports last August.

“The reason is that as long as our two wings are not dangerous, then the opponent focuses too much on Olunga. If the two opposing central defenders can play while only focusing on Olunga, then there is no way he can break free,” Firat explained.

Olunga’s best performances under Firat came during the Malawi Four Nations tournament in March 2024, where he scored a hat-trick against Zimbabwe. With Timbe and Ronney Onyango providing support from the flanks, the additional attacking threat allowed Olunga to thrive.

“In the tournament held in Malawi, he scored five goals partly because we had Ayub Timbe and Ronney Onyango on either flank, who were very dangerous. This opened up spaces and created opportunities for Olunga to come in and score,” Firat concluded.

Quincy Mbugua

Quincy Mbugua, another promising talent at Hertha Berlin, currently plays for the club’s U17 team.

 Born on July 21, 2008, Mbugua is a versatile player who primarily operates as a left winger but is also comfortable on the right wing or as a right-back. Like Akumu, Mbugua holds German citizenship but is eligible to represent Kenya if he chooses to switch allegiances.

Mbugua has been with Hertha Berlin’s youth academy since 2020 and signed a contract extension on October 14, 2022, that runs until June 30, 2026. In the 2024/2025 season, he has made 12 appearances in the U17 DFB-Nachwuchsliga, scoring two goals over 574 minutes of play.

He also represented the Berlin U15 team in the Länderpokal tournament, playing four matches and scoring twice between June 16 and June 20, 2023.

Unlike Akumu, Mbugua has not yet featured for Germany’s youth national teams, which could make it easier for FKF to convince him to play for Kenya. He has played 46% of Hertha Berlin’s U17 Nachwuchsliga Group D matches this season, scoring two goals and contributing to four in total.

Final thoughts

The lack of quality wingers has been a persistent issue for Harambee Stars, often limiting the team’s attacking potential. 

With Akumu and Mbugua excelling in Germany’s competitive youth system, they could provide the solution to this long-standing problem. Both players bring technical ability, pace, and tactical awareness that could significantly strengthen Kenya’s attacking options.

The key challenge for FKF will be convincing these talented youngsters to commit to playing for Kenya. If successful, the addition of Akumu and Mbugua could mark a turning point in the national team’s quest for greater success on the international stage.