Benni McCarthy Faces Backlash Over AFC Leopards Snub

Harambee Stars Coach under fire for selection bias

Kenyan football fans react to Benni McCarthy's Harambee Stars squad selection, questioning the absence of AFC Leopards players.

“When I watch the Kenyan Premier League, it’s difficult to identify any team that is way ahead of the rest in terms of very high-quality top-level players...”

Kenya's national football team, Harambee Stars, is facing criticism over its latest squad selection. Head coach Benni McCarthy has come under fire for allegedly snubbing players from Kenyan Premier League side AFC Leopards.

The controversy surrounds McCarthy's recent announcement of the squad for upcoming friendly matches against Madagascar and Comoros in Antalya, Turkey. Notably, no AFC Leopards players were included in the squad.

AFC Leopards legend Reginald Asibwa expressed his disappointment, questioning the selection process and suggesting potential bias. “The rate at which AFC Leopards players are being overlooked in the recent past when naming even provisional squads for the national team is indeed wanting,” Asibwa said.

Asibwa's concerns are echoed by many, with some calling for greater transparency in the selection process. The debate highlights the challenges faced by McCarthy in selecting the best players for the national team.

AFC Leopards, Kenya's third-most successful club with multiple titles, failed to secure a single player spot in McCarthy's latest shortlist. Notably, striker Michael Olunga was left out.

Gor Mahia, a major rival of AFC Leopards, dominated the squad with five players: goalkeeper Byrne Omondi, defenders Sylvester Owino and Michael Kibwage, as well as midfielders Alpha Onyango and Austin Odhiambo [10]. The Mashemeji derby between Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards is one of Kenya's most fiercely contested football matches.

Other teams also contributed players to the squad. Tusker FC provided goalkeeper Brian Opondo, while Kenya Police FC contributed Marvin Nabwire. Nairobi United, a newly promoted side that qualified for the CAF Confederation Cup group stages, had two representatives: defender Manzur Suleiman and winger Ovellah Ochieng, who earned a recall to the national team after a lengthy absence.

Harambee Stars Selection Criteria Raises Concerns

The absence of a single AFC Leopards player in the squad to Turkey, and previous ones, has caught the attention of the club's legend, Reginald Asibwa, who believes the selection should be done across the board.

“When I watch the Kenyan Premier League, it’s difficult to identify any team that is way ahead of the rest in terms of very high-quality top-level players,” Asibwa said. “The rate at which AFC Leopards players are being overlooked in the recent past when naming even provisional squads for the national team is indeed wanting.”

He added: “I am not privy to the criteria used, but the process of selecting players raises concerns in terms of the yardstick used. I think if our level of football has gone down or up as a country, I think this should be across the board.”

Asibwa, who played for AFC Leopards in the late 1980s, believes those involved in selecting players for the national team should do it fairly to avoid people raising questions after the list is out.

Asibwa, who played for Harambee Stars during his football journey and currently resides in South London, further wondered why it was possible that when players leave AFC Leopards, they end up getting national team call-ups while representing their new clubs.

“Please, those involved in selection, let it not be the case of witch-hunt, maligning AFC Leopards and/or treating our players unfairly,” explained Asibwa.

“How can one explain when a player leaves AFC Leopards today, tomorrow they’re called to the national team? This isn’t good at all. In fact, I don’t think Kenya has a database containing all statistics regarding performances for all Kenyan players, which could have been the basis for inclusion or omission.”

Asibwa concluded: “Selection based on the beholder without an elaborate criteria can lead to one being biased, which you, the people concerned, need to check.”

#HarambeeStars will play two international friendlies in Antalya, Turkey during the November FIFA window

🗓 Nov 14 – Kenya 🆚 Madagascar
🗓 Nov 17/18 (TBC) – Kenya 🆚 Comoros pic.twitter.com/nSjKrHrEtr

— Harambee Stars (@Harambee__Stars) October 28, 2025

AFC Leopards have bounced back from a slow start to the season, securing two consecutive wins against KCB and Sofapaka. The Ingwe are currently fifth in the 18-team table, having accumulated nine points from five matches.

Final squad for Turkey trip

Goalkeepers: Byrne Omondi (Gor Mahia), Brian Bwire (Polokwane City), Brian Opondo (Tusker FC).

Defenders: Vincent Harper (Walsall), Sylvester Owino (Gor Mahia), Alphonce Omija (Etoile Du Sahel), Michael Kibwage (Gor Mahia), Ronney Onyango (Sogndal), Manzur Suleiman (Nairobi United), Baron Ochieng (Zamalek).

Midfielders: Alpha Onyango (Gor Mahia), Duke Abuya (Yanga), Timothy Ouma (Lech Poznań), Marvin Nabwire (Kenya Police FC), and Austin Odhiambo (Gor Mahia).

Strikers: William Lenkupae (VPS), Job Ochieng (Real Sociedad), Boniface Muchiri (Ulinzi Stars), Adam Wilson (New Saints), Aldrine Kibet (Celta Vigo), Ovellah Ochieng (Nairobi United), Jonah Ayunga (ST Mirren), Ryan Ogam (Wolfsberger), Lawrence Okoth (SJK Seinajoki).