A nagging knee injury has ruled Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama out of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) Group “F” qualifier against Ghana slated for Kasarani Stadium on Saturday.

Stars welcome the Black Stars, who pitched a three-day camp in the Ethiopia capital Addis Ababa since Monday, sitting third in the group without a point, while second-placed Sierra Leone visit bottom-placed Ethiopia on Sunday.

The Tottenham Hotspurs midfielder, who was an unused substitute in his team’s 2-1 defeat to Watford in the English Premier League last Sunday, has not reported to camp alongside his big brother McDonald Mariga, whose reason for not joining the team is unknown, despite being called up.

Mariga turns up Spanish Segunda side Real Ovideo.

Wanyama featured in the 2-1 loss away to Sierra Leone in the first round tie on June 10.

Harambee Stars coach Sebastien Migne says he has another option in store after monitoring available players in camp from Monday.

“We can’t take risks for his future career, we know he is one of the best players for the team but I cannot cry, I have to find another option,” Migne told journalists after taking 24 players through their paces in a morning training session at the Kenya School of Monetary Studies (KSMS) on Wednesday.

Harambee Stars players in camp

GOALKEEPERS: Patrick Matasi, Farouk Shikalo, Ian Otieno.

DEFENDERS: Philemon Otieno, Jockins Atudo, Dennis Odhiambo, Joash Onyango, Benard Ochieng, Abud Omar, David Ochieng, Erick “Marcelo”  Ouma, Joseph Okumu, Musa Mohammed, David Owino.

MIDFIELDERS: Francis Kahata, Abdallah Hassan, Anthony Akumu, Eric Johanna, Ismail Gonzalez, Johanna Omollo.

FORWARDS: Piston Mutamba, Jesse Were, Michael Olunga, Ovella Ochieng.

Nation