New Era, New Faces

Nineteen-year-old Aldrine Kibet, the Spanish-based Celta Vigo midfielder, has received his first senior national team call-up in a squad defined by a significant youth infusion. Harambee Stars Head Coach Benni McCarthy, appointed in March 2025, named Kibet in his 24-man squad for two international friendlies in Antalya, Turkey. The team is scheduled to play Equatorial Guinea on Friday, November 14, 2025, and the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations champions, Senegal, on Tuesday, November 18, 2025.

The selection marks a pivotal moment for the highly-rated youngster, who rose to national prominence during the 2023 Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) Games with St. Anthony's Boys High School, Kitale. His performance there secured him a move to Spain's Nastic Sports Academy, and in July 2025, he was signed by La Liga club Celta Vigo to play for their reserve team, Celta Fortuna.

Speaking to the media after his inclusion, Kibet expressed his astonishment, admitting the call-up arrived much sooner than he had anticipated. "I did not expect it to come this soon. I was expecting to get a call-up much later, maybe in 2027. But I am happy it came early,” Kibet stated on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, during the team's final training at Nyayo National Stadium.

McCarthy's Youth-Oriented Strategy for 2027 AFCON

Kibet's inclusion is a cornerstone of Coach McCarthy's deliberate strategy to build a formidable team for the future, specifically targeting the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which Kenya will co-host with Uganda and Tanzania. Having missed out on qualification for both the 2025 AFCON and the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the national team's focus has shifted towards long-term development.

The squad for the Turkey friendlies reflects this new direction, featuring several other young players receiving their first senior call-ups. Among them are Nairobi United defender Kevin Otiende and Gor Mahia's Bryton Onyona. The assistant coach, Vasili Manousakis, confirmed this approach, stating, “We have taken a little bit of a different approach focusing on AFCON 2027 which is the development of a new crop of players. Lots of youngsters, almost a new-look team of Kenya for these upcoming friendly matches.”

The decision to play high-profile opponents like Senegal and Equatorial Guinea is intended to expose this new generation to top-tier international competition. According to the Football Kenya Federation (FKF), the matches were organised in Turkey to ease logistical challenges for the European-based players of the opposing teams.

The Full Squad and Technical Bench

The team, under the new technical bench led by McCarthy, departed for Turkey on Wednesday, November 12, 2025. The South African coach replaced Turkish tactician Engin Firat, whose contract was terminated in December 2024. McCarthy's appointment in March 2025 on a contract running until the 2027 AFCON was a clear signal of FKF's long-term ambitions.

Several established players, including captain Michael Olunga, were rested for this international window to give opportunities to the new faces. The full squad travelling to Turkey includes:

• Goalkeepers: Byrne Omondi (Gor Mahia), Brian Bwire (Polokwane City), Brian Opondo (Tusker FC)
• Defenders: Sylvester Owino (Gor Mahia), Alphonce Omija (Etoile Du Sahel), Michael Kibwage (Gor Mahia), Ronney Onyango (Sogndal), Kevin Otiende (Nairobi United), Baron Ochieng (Zamalek), Bryton Onyona (Gor Mahia)
• Midfielders: Alpha Onyango (Gor Mahia), Duke Abuya (Yanga), Timothy Ouma (Lech Poznan), Marvin Nabwire (Kenya Police FC)
• Attackers: Austine Odhiambo (Gor Mahia), William Lenkupae (VPS), Job Ochieng (Real Sociedad), Boniface Muchiri (Ulinzi Stars), Aldrine Kibet (Celta Vigo), Ovellah Ochieng (Nairobi United), Jonah Ayunga (ST Mirren), Ryan Ogam (Wolfsberger), Lawrence Okoth (SJK Seinajoki), Sharif Musa (Gor Mahia)

(Source: Football Kenya Federation, November 7, 2025).