By Bonface Osano,

Kenya’s Harambee Stars head coach Bobby Williamson has named a strong squad of  20 man squad  for the AFCON 2017 qualfier match against Congo Brazzaville.

The match will be played on Sunday June 14th in Brazzaville and the team is expected to depart Nairobi tomorrow, Friday 12th.

The team has been picked from the initial pool of 35 players that were called to camp to prepare for CHAN 2016 and AFCON 2017 qualifiers and the Memorial Cup that took place in Rwanda last weekend.

The squad consists of two goal keepers, five defenders, seven midfielders and five strikers.

Conspicuously missing in the team includes Leopards goal poacher Jacob Keli who has scored eight times by the mid season break of Kenyan Premier League and Ali Abondo of Gor Mahia who tops the scorers chat with nine goals.

Soka25east.com has reliably learnt that Abondo’s slot has been taken by midfielder  Stephen Wakanya of Chamelil FC whose air ticket had already been booked.

Others who did make it to the list are; Evans Eliachi, Ayub Timbe and Charles Odette, the trio were active in the just ended Memorial Cup invitational tournament.

Kenya’s first choice keeper Arnold Origi who plays for Lillestrom in Belgium did not honor the call up to the national team for what he explained as Kenya FA’s failing to make necessary arrangements in time with his club for release.

In his place, Gor’s on song keeper who has so far kept ten clean sheets on the trot in the league is expected to slot in will minimal competition.

Southampton midfielder Victor Wanyama retains the armband and will captain the “Stars” against the “Red Devils” on the day.

The Team

Goal Keepers

Ian Otieno  (Rangers FC ), Boniface Oluoch ( Gor Mahia FC)

Defenders:

David Ochieng(Al Tawoon),David Owino (Zesco),Jackson Saleh(AFC Leopards),Edwin Wafula(AFC Leopards),Aboud Omar (Unattached )

Midfielders

Collins “Gattuso” Okoth  (Gor Mahia FC), Humphrey Mieno and Kevin Kimani  (Tusker FC ), Victor Wanyama  (Southampton FC), Anthony Akumu  (Al Khartoum), Stephen Wakanya  (Chemelil FC ), Paul Were (Unattached)

Strikers

Noah Wafula  (AFC Leopards ), Jesse Were  (Tusker FC ), Allan Wanga (El Merreikh), Michael “Midusa” Olunga (Gor Mahia FC) and Francis Kahata (FC Tirana )

Find me on twitter @bonfaceosano

Collins Okinyo

Ex- CAF Media Expert. An expert on African football with over 15 years experience ,always with an ear to the ground with indepth knowledge of the game. I have worked for top publications including 7 years at www.supersport.com until i founded www.soka25east.com to quench the thirst of football lovers across the continent. I have trained young upcoming journalists who are now a voice in African football.I have covered World Cup,AFCON,CHAN,Champions League,Confederations Cup,Cecafa,Cosafa,Wafu and many other football tournaments across the World. Founder Football Africa Arena(FAA),Founder www.afrisportdigital.com