Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy has unveiled his 38-man provisional squad for Kenya's opening two 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, with several established names surprisingly missing from the South African tactician's latest selection.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsMcCarthy has retained a blend of experienced internationals and emerging talent as he prepares Kenya for a Group D campaign that will begin with a home encounter against Eritrea on Saturday, 26 September, at Nyayo Stadium before travelling to Conakry to face Guinea on Thursday, 1 October.While the return of captain Michael Olunga and defender Joseph Okumu after lengthy injury layoffs has dominated attention, a number of familiar faces have been left out.McCarthy names 3 new faces in Harambee Stars' provisional squad for 2027 AFCON qualifiersEric 'Marcelo' OumaOne of the most notable omissions is Raków Częstochowa left-back Eric Ouma.The former Gor Mahia defender endured a lengthy spell on the sidelines after rupturing his Achilles tendon during a training session with the Polish side on August 28, 2025. After close to 10 months out, Ouma returned to the national team fold for the June friendlies against Lesotho, featuring as Kenya drew 1-1 before winning the return fixture 4-0.##NAJAVA_MECA_9930427##His omission from the latest squad therefore comes as a surprise, particularly after successfully completing his recovery and returning to international action.The 29-year-old, however, missed the matchday squad against Jagiellonia on Sunday, 30 August, where Raków suffered a heavy 5-2 defeat in the Polish Ekstraklasa. Moses ShumahAnother high-profile absentee is Moses Shumah.Kenya handed major boost in Benni McCarthy's Harambee Stars futureThe forward enjoyed an outstanding 2025/26 campaign with Power Dynamos in Zambia, finishing as the Zambian Super League top scorer with 21 goals and collecting several individual awards, which earned him a transfer to South African outfit AmaZulu FC.Despite his impressive form abroad, Shumah has once again failed to make McCarthy's provisional squad. His last appearance for Harambee Stars came in June 2025, meaning his latest omission extends his absence from the national team setup.Masud JumaExperienced striker Masud Juma has also been overlooked.##NAJAVA_MECA_9930179##Juma has been a familiar figure in the Harambee Stars setup under previous head coach the late Engin Firat and remained part of the wider national-team picture during McCarthy's tenure. His absence represents another significant decision as the coach continues reshaping his attacking options.Alpha OnyangoGor Mahia midfielder Alpha Onyango is another notable casualty.Former Gor Mahia defender explains joining KCB after stint abroadThe combative midfielder has previously featured for the national team but does not appear in the latest provisional list, highlighting McCarthy's willingness to make significant changes in midfield.Clarke OduorEnglish-based defender Clarke Oduor has also missed out.The Grimsby Town player featured for Kenya during the March 2026 FIFA Series tournament in Kigali, Rwanda, but has not been included in the squad for the opening AFCON qualifying assignments.##NAJAVA_MECA_9930459##His absence leaves McCarthy with a different set of options in the defensive department, which includes the returning Joseph Okumu alongside the likes of Rooney Onyango, Frank Odhiambo and Stanley Wilson.Sydney AginaStoke City defender Sydney Agina is another notable omission.The 18-year-old earned his maiden senior Harambee Stars call-up in May 2026 after progressing through Stoke City's academy and making his senior debut for the English Championship side during the 2025/26 campaign. STARS ABROAD: Kenyan forward nets brace in England as Abuya skippers Yanga to big winStoke City confirmed his first Kenya call-up ahead of the June international window.Agina subsequently made his international debut during Kenya's June friendly series against Lesotho, coming off the bench as the Stars continued their preparations for the 2027 AFCON qualifiers.His rise has continued at club level since then. After making five Championship appearances for Stoke City during the 2025/26 campaign, Agina signed a new contract with the club before joining National League side Forest Green Rovers on loan until January 2027 to continue his development.##NAJAVA_MECA_9930448##His latest omission is therefore notable, particularly given that McCarthy had only recently handed him his first senior international opportunity as part of the coach's push to integrate young players with Kenyan roots playing abroad.Sammy Henia-KamauFC Jersey Bulls forward Sammy Henia-Kamau has also failed to make the latest cut despite being among the fresh faces introduced to the national team by McCarthy earlier this year.Henia-Kamau earned his maiden senior Harambee Stars call-up in May 2026 alongside Agina, with the then Hull City player forming part of a group of young foreign-based players brought into the squad as McCarthy expanded his options.Yanga's Duke Abuya opens up on three side hustles outside of footballThe forward subsequently made his senior international debut during the June friendlies against Lesotho, marking another step in his progression after coming through Swansea City's system before joining Hull City's development setup.His club situation, however, has changed since that first call-up. Hull City secured promotion to the Premier League in May, but Henia-Kamau was subsequently released by the club as preparations began for their return to the English top flight. His omission from McCarthy's latest squad comes after the coach had only recently given him his first taste of senior international football.##NAJAVA_MECA_9930457##Other notable omissions include AFC Leopards youngster Kelly Madada, Gor Mahia defender Daniel Sakari, Etoile du Sahel defender Alphonce Omija and Joseph Waithira, who finished as the FKF Premier League's leading scorer and is currently with South Sudanese club Jamus SC.Anthony Akumu of Nejmeh SC and AFC Leopards midfielder Tyson Otieno have also failed to make the cut.The omissions underline the competitive nature of McCarthy's squad-building exercise as he looks to establish a team capable of delivering results when competitive football begins.Victor Wanyama shares advice for young players aspiring to turn professionalDespite Kenya already being assured of a place at the 2027 AFCON finals as co-hosts alongside Uganda and Tanzania, the qualifiers remain important for Harambee Stars as they seek competitive matches and momentum ahead of the continental showpiece.McCarthy will now hope his chosen group can deliver a strong start against Eritrea before facing a potentially tougher test against Guinea in Conakry.