For any footballer around the world, playing for your country is the peak of a player’s experience. Hearing the national anthem as you put on the national team colours brings strong emotions, igniting a motivation within to ensure that you do not stain the jersey your forefathers fought hard to make possible.
For Kenya, this is no different, with the national team, Harambee Stars, the pride of the nation. Players are drawn from the local leagues, with those born abroad but with Kenyan roots switching allegiance to play for Harambee Stars.
Currently, a rich crop of foreign-based players with Kenyan roots exists in top European leagues, with the footballers yet to confirm allegiance.
At the top of this group is Tyler Onyango, who plays for Everton in the English Premier League (EPL) but is currently on loan at League One side Stockport County.
Onyango, born of a Kenyan father and British mother, is a product of Everton’s academy, making his debut at only 17. Now 22, Onyango primarily plays as a central midfielder but can also play as a centre back or right back, if required.
As for representing Kenya, Onyango has previously expressed his openness towards putting on the Harambee Stars shirt in the near future, describing it as something that would be a proud moment for his family.
Speaking in a past interview, Onyango did not provide an exact timeline of any potential switch, noting that his current focus was on his club career.
“Playing for Kenya is something that I have thought about and is something that, in the future, I am open to and will look at. But for me, my main priority for this season, at least, is club football and performing at a high level,” Onyango noted.
“I would be proud (to put on the shirt). I think it is a great achievement for anyone, and I know my family would be super proud,” he added.
Still, McCarthy in the recent past confirmed that he had reached out to the player’s camp to enquire about the possibility of him switching allegiance. The efforts are perhaps part of a bigger plan to strengthen the Harambee Stars squad ahead of the 2027 African Cup of Nations (AFCON), which Kenya will co-host together with Uganda and Tanzania.
Onyango previously represented the England Under-17 squad and is still eligible to represent Kenya at the senior level.
Another player on the list is Linton Maina, an attacking midfielder playing for FC Köln in the German Bundesliga. Born in Germany to a Kenyan father, Maina has represented Germany at the youth levels but remains eligible for Kenya.
Maina, a technical attacking midfielder, has good dribbling, good pace, agile movement, and creativity. He is good at creating chances and providing assists. Compared to his goal scoring, the assist numbers tend to stand out more.
He made his professional Bundesliga debut in 2018 for his previous club, Hannover 96, in a match against Borussia Dortmund.
As for playing for Kenya, the 26-year-old has previously spoken highly of his heritage. However, there is little to no information as to whether he has confirmed switching to play for Harambee Stars.
Another Harambee Stars prospect is Clement Mutahi-Bischoff, a Danish footballer with Kenyan roots from his father’s side. Bischoff plays in the Austrian Bundesliga, playing for the top team, RB Salzburg.
The Danish Under-21 international, who joined the defending champions from the Danish team Brøndby, is a versatile player capable of playing as a winger, midfielder, or fullback.
Bischoff remains a prospect for McCarthy, as he has yet to represent the Danish senior team. This makes him an exciting option, as he would certainly add an extra level of quality to the national team ahead of the 2027 African Cup of Nations.
Little is known of his intention to play for Harambee Stars, as he has yet to publicly address the possibility of playing for the national team.
Other prospects include Maik Nelson Afri Akumu, and Quincy Mbugua, who are currently at the youth level, both playing for Hertha Berlin in Germany.
If the aforementioned players agree to switch allegiance, they would join Wilson Lenkupae, Adam Wilson, and Zak Vyner in becoming foreign-based players with Kenyan roots who are playing for the national team.
