Kenya men's national football team head coach, Benni McCarthy, unveiled a provisional squad on Wednesday evening for the upcoming Africa Nations Championships (CHAN).

Kenya will co-host the tournament with its East African neighbours, Uganda and Tanzania.

CHAN will kick off on August 2 when Tanzania take on Burkina Faso at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

Harambee Stars' first game will be a day later at the Kasarani Stadium when they take on the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Kenya was placed in a tough-looking Group A when the draw was done at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre on January 15.

After DRC, Harambee Stars will play Angola before facing Morocco, who, like DRC, have won this competition twice.

McCarthy's charges will conclude their group campaign against Zambia.

"This is the Group of Death. These are huge games, and it only means we have to prepare well. Now that the tournament has been postponed, we have time to get the team ready," said FKF Deputy President McDonald Mariga at that time.

As usual, Kenyans took to social media to give their opinion on McCarthy's squad.

A lot of users questioned why the South African tactician had axed the likes of Michael Olunga, Eric 'Marcelo' Ouma and even Victor Wanyama, who almost made a return to the international fold last month.

Samuel Kafuka said,

"Where is the Engineer himselfu!! Kenya is not complete without Michael Olunga."

Kiptoo Victor said,

"Where is Ogada man?"

While Shirrt Giddeeone said,

"What happened to super captain Olunga!"

No, McCarthy hasn't made a mistake, nor have the country's leading players fallen out of favour with the former Manchester United forward's coach.

CHAN is a tournament set aside by CAF that only locally based players can compete in.

"Unlike the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the CHAN tournament features only players who play in their national domestic leagues. That means no European-based stars – only local talent representing their countries," as explained on CAF's website.

"It is a showcase of Africa’s best homegrown players, often providing a springboard for emerging stars to secure moves abroad."

Therefore, in Kenya's case, McCarthy can only rely on players who play in the Kenya Premier League.

Olunga, Wanyama, Marcelo, Joseph Okumu, Timothy Ouma and the rest of the abroad-based players will return to the squad in September when Harambee Stars play Gambia in the World Cup qualifiers.

In the absence of the usual heavy-hitters, McCarthy has assembled a squad of players who caught his eye in the just-concluded season.

Golden Boot winner Moses Shumah of Kakamega Homeboyz leads the squad alongside Emmanuel Osoro, who gave a good account of himself in June friendlies.

The fast-rising Mohamed Bajaber is in the squad as well as last season's MVP, Austine 'Rolls Royce' Odhiambo.

Ulinzi Stars’ duo of Yakeen Muteheli and Staphod Odhiambo, and Kariobangi Sharks' Keith Imbali have received their maiden call-ups.

The team will report to camp on July 10 to begin preparations for the tournament.

Kenya made a vital step on July 1 after Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya handed over Kasarani Stadium to the Local Organising Committee.

The 55,000-seater capacity stadium, which will host the final on August 30, has been undergoing renovations.

Mvurya revealed that Nyayo Stadium will be ready in a few days.

Source: TUKO.co.ke