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Harambee Stars interim coach Francis Kimanzi has made further changes to his Mapinduzi Cup squad after dropping two players from the travelling team.
Harambee Stars interim coach Francis Kimanzi has dropped Kenya Police ace Marvine Nabwire and AFC Leopards midfielder Victor Omune from his squad that will travel to Zanzibar for the Mapinduzi Cup.
The two had been named in a 26-man team on Tuesday but Kimanzi has further trimmed the team, leaving them behind ahead of the team’s departure on Thursday, for the eight-team tournament set to kick off in Pemba Island on Friday.
“We had a large squad initially because we wanted to analyse and give all a chance to show what they can do,” Kimanzi said as quoted on the Football Kenya Federation website.
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09:40 - 01.01.2025
AFC Leopards' Kelly Madada in, Shabana's Brian Michira omitted as Francis Kimanzi names 26-man Harambee Stars squad for Mapinduzi Cup escapade
Madada, who was part of Salim Babu's Rising Stars side that sealed a place at the U-20 AFCON last October, has been included in the squad.
“All the 40 that were in camp from the onset are really quality players but we needed just 24 for Mapinduzi Cup. We now have a base that we will build on ahead of CHAN,” added the tactician, emphasising the need to use the tournament as part of their preparations for the 2024 African Nations Championships (CHAN 2024).
The two players have been key for their clubs with Nabwire having previously earned a national team call-up in October for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers thanks to his good form for Police.
Omune, meanwhile, is one of Leopards go-to men and was voted the club’s Player of the Season in 2023-24.
Kimanzi has selected a relatively young team for the Mapinduzi Cup with a few experienced players such as Faruk Shikalo, Abud Omar, Daniel Sakari and Kenneth Muguna added for the regional tournament.
Kenya will join Zanzibar Heroes, Uganda, Kilimanjaro Stars, Burundi and Burkina Faso at the tournament.
HARAMBEE STARS SQUAD FOR MAPINDUZI CUP
Goalkeepers; Byrne Odhiambo, Faruk Shikalo, Sepstanious Wekesa.
Defenders; Sylvester Owino, Hanif Wesonga, Alphonce Omija, Brian Okoth, Abud Omar, Siraj Mohammed, Ronney Onyango, Daniel Sakari.
Midfielders; Michael Mutinda, Chrispine Erambo, Brian Musa, Kelly Madada, Austine Odhiambo, Kenneth Muguna, Ben Stanley Omondi, Mohammed Bajaber, Boniface Muchiri, Darius Msagah, James Kinyanjui.
Forwards: Moses Shumah, Ryan Ogam.
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