Wanyama returns, Olunga dropped in Kenya's squad to face Chad in June

NAIROBI, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Former captain Victor Wanyama has come out of retirement to play for the Kenya senior men's team and made the provisional squad of 25 that will play in international friendlies against Chad in Morocco in June.

Wanyama, a former Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder in the English Premier League, among a slew of other clubs in Europe, recently joined Scottish second-tier side Dunfermline Athletic in January.

The combative defensive midfielder, who made his name as part of Mauricio Pochettino's Southampton and reigning UEFA Europa League champions Spurs teams, announced his retirement from Kenya's Harambee Stars in 2021.

According to local reports, Wanyama, 33, was coaxed out of retirement by Stars head coach and retired South African goal-scoring record striker, Benni McCarthy.

McCarthy announced his squad on Tuesday evening to face Morocco with Wanyama in, before stunning everyone by dropping Qatar based striker and team captain, Michael Olunga from his team.

Wanyama is the senior most member of the team that blends youth and experience as McCarthy launches his preparations for the delayed 2024 Africa Home Nations Championship (CHAN) finals in July.

Kenya will co-host the 19-team second-tier tournament alongside East African neighbours, Uganda and Tanzania.

Kenneth Nyamwaya and Swaleh Pamba have earned maiden senior call-ups.

The players are set to report to camp on June 2 to kick off preparations for the two international fixtures.

Kenya is scheduled to play Chad on June 7 and June 10 in Morocco.

This will be McCarthy's second camp in charge having fielded the team at the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against the Gambia where he drew 3-3 away before losing 2-1 at home to Gabon in March.

The results left Kenya fourth in Group F of Africa qualifying on six points, trailing leaders and African champions Cote d'Ivoire who occupy the World Cup slot half-way through the campaign.

Kenya will play Gambia and Seychelles at home in the next round of the qualifiers in September before travelling to Burundi and Cote d'Ivoire to wrap up their campaign in October. Enditem