Gambia v Harambee Stars: No Byrne Omondi, No Patrick Matasi – Who will stand tall between the sticks?

Gambia v Harambee Stars: No Byrne Omondi, No Patrick Matasi – Who will stand tall between the sticks?

Evans Ousuru 06:20 - 14.03.2025

Here is everything you need to know about the goalkeepers called up to Harambee Stars by Benni McCarthy. Who deserves to start against The Gambia and Gabon?

The exclusion of Bandari FC custodian Byrne Omondi from the initial Harambee Stars squad announced by Benni McCarthy has caught many by surprise, considering that he has been one of the key players in the previous Harambee Stars squads.

The 28-year-old has largely been the most preferred goalkeeper for Harambee Stars in recent times, and with his closest competitor during that time, Patrick Matasi, out of the squad, Omondi looked like an obvious name in the team, but he is not one of the four custodians in the squad.

Omondi had been on the sidelines for about a month but was in the starting 11 of Bandari's last league match against Tusker FC. The decision to drop Omondi means that McCarthy must make a tough call on who will start against The Gambia and Gabon in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

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McCarthy has named four  goalkeepers; Brian Opondo (Tusker FC), Faruk Shikhalo (Bandari FC), Ian Otieno (Richards Bay), and Brian Bwire (Polokwane City) but who will the South African prefer as the first choice? Pulse Sports brings you the goalkeeping conundrum facing McCarthy heading into the do-or-die must-win matches in Group F.

Ian Otieno

Gambia v Harambee Stars: No Bryne Omondi, No Patrick Matasi – Who will stand tall between the stricks?
Harambee Stars goalkeeper Ian Otieno.

Otieno is the most experienced goalkeepers named by McCarthy. Since his debut in 2015, the 31-year-old has managed 10 appearances for Harambee Stars. Otieno has had a mixed season at Polokwane City.

After being benched in the opening two matches, Otieno, who played for AFC Leopards between 2016-2018, started the next seven matches, accumulating 630 minutes in the process. However, the former Posta Rangers goalkeeper  has not played for the club since November 30th 2024, in the 3-1 loss to Amazulu FC. Otieno was on the bench when Harambee Stars lost 5-1 on aggregate against Cameroon in October but was missing altogether against Namibia and Zimbabwe in November.

Brian Bwire

Gambia v Harambee Stars: No Bryne Omondi, No Patrick Matasi – Who will stand tall between the stricks?
Brian Bwire in action for Polokwane City.

The 24-year-old has made four appearances in the Confederation Cup for Polokwane. The former Kariobangi Sharks and Tusker keeper has made two appearances for Harambee Stars. He broke into the Kenya National team setup in 2021 and made his debut against Mali in a 2022 World Cup qualifier at Nyayo Stadium.

Brian Opondo

Gambia v Harambee Stars: No Bryne Omondi, No Patrick Matasi – Who will stand tall between the stricks?
Brian Opondo in action or Tusker

Opondo, who has been Tusker's first-choice goalkeeper, hopes to make his debut for the national team. After spending years as a backup, he recently secured his position as the starting goalkeeper and has now earned a place in the national team. The custodian has been in excellent form, keeping six clean sheets in just eight games since becoming the starter. 

Farouk Shikhalo

Gambia v Harambee Stars: No Bryne Omondi, No Patrick Matasi – Who will stand tall between the stricks?
Kenya international goalkeeper Farouk Shikalo (Photo credit:Yanga)

At just 28, Shikhalo has played for nine clubs in his career and has one cap for Harambee Stars.

Moeneeb Josephs, the new Harambee Stars goalkeeping coach, will have a big say on who will begin McCarthy's reign as first choice shot stopper. Him, alongside fellow countryman Pilela Maposa, who is the Performance Analyst have their work cut out. .McCarthy faces a tough call in goal and perhaps so many factors will be considered before picking the starter against The Gambia and Gabon.