CHAN 2024: 5 Harambee Stars Players That Will Be Badly Missed After Dream Moves Abroad

‎‎Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy would not have wished for such chaotic preparations for his team ahead of the 2024 African Nations Championships (CHAN 2024).

‎McCarthy has had to deal with disruptions to his plans after a number of key players pulled out having secured big-money transfers out of the country.

‎Just this month alone, McCarthy has seen three players that he had included in the squad sign for clubs out of the country, making matters difficult.

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‎Benni McCarthy’s first blow was delivered after the FKF Premier League top scorer Moses Shumah, who managed 17 goals, secured a move to Zambian champions Power Dynamos in early July.

‎Shumah was among players who had been called up but he will now miss out, robbing the national team a lethal striker that could have solved their goalscoring problems.

‎Just after Shumah’s departure, Emmanuel Osoro was the next to decamp from the Harambee Stars camp, following him to Power Dynamos.

‎Osoro had shown great promise during Kenya’s friendly matches with Chad in June and was set to light up the tournament, after finishing as the league’s second highest scorer with 16 goals, but will not play any part after his transfer to Zambia.

‎Former Gor Mahia full-back Ronney Onyango was the first big name to become ineligible for CHAN 2024 when he sealed a transfer to Norwegian club Sogndal Football in April.

‎The right-back is a dependable player for the national team and after an aborted move to Tanzanian side Singida in January, he moved to Europe four months before CHAN 2024 began, robbing McCarthy a quality defensive option.

‎While he was not in top form, having returned to Gor Mahia in the second half of the season, Benson Omala’s availability would have boosted McCarthy at a time when key strikers have pulled out of the team.

‎However, Omala moved to Cambodia to join Visakha FC in what was a surprise transfer, hence making himself ineligible for the CHAN 2024 tournament.

‎Perhaps the biggest blow to McCarthy is the departure of Kenya Police attacker Mohammed Bajaber, who pulled out this week, having secured a transfer to Tanzanian giants Simba SC.

‎Bajaber was one of the star players in the Harambee Stars squad and biggest crowd puller and his absence does not only deny the team goals and assists but also its main attraction.

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